Advocate to Make Polluters Pay

Holding polluters accountable

When floods destroy homes and wildfires burn communities, someone always pays. These natural disasters are happening more frequently and severely due to global warming, and global warming has gotten worse because of the overuse of fossil fuels. The only question is whether everyday Americans or corporations that causing the crisis pay while pocketing trillions.

For decades, communities with the fewest resources have shouldered the burden instead of fossil fuel billionaires. In addition, renewable energy sources are much better for the planet and our communities.

We have a chance to change that practice, fight for renewable energy, and bring power back to the community members.

Ten states have introduced climate superfund bills to address the growing financial burdens of climate adaptation, recovery, and resilience. Two of these have made it into law.
- Vermont and, most recently, New York have passed Climate Superfund laws; California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Oregon have also proposed similar bills in recent years.

These bills allocate the financial responsibility for climate-related costs to the oil and gas industry by following a "polluter pays" framework.

So, this means that polluters are required to pay into a "fund" to cover climate infrastructure repairs and resilience measures that otherwise governments and in turn communities must pay for. The polluters would pay based on their share of legacy greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate Damage by Fossil Fuel Companies

Economists have crunched the numbers and if fossil fuel companies continue on the track of polluting, from 2025-2050, the median estimate of economic damages is $99 trillion, of which $70 trillion can be attributed to fossil fuel emissions.

How to Create a State Legislative Campaign

Here are some direct actions for how to start a conversation regarding state legislative efforts.

- Whenever possible, it is a good thing to try and meet with your Congressperson's office as much as you can. This is the best way to make sure you hold them accountable - even better than emails and phone calls!
- To set up a meeting, use this meeting request to reach out to the office.
- Remember that you are their constituent! Even if the Member themself can not meet with you, you are entitled to meet with a staffer from their office at the very least.
- Check if your state legislator is holding town halls about this issue. Be there to voice your concerns and demand accountability. If there are no town halls scheduled, gather your community and invite your representatives to attend a public meeting you organize.
- Another way to get a townhall is to call their office and ask that they host one. Call their office, email them, tag them on social media to amplify the issue.

How Laws are Made

Need more information on the state legislative process? Learn more about how laws are made at the state level.

Learn More

Holding polluters accountable

Meet with your State Legislator

Direct Outreach

Organize or Attend Town Halls

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