A coalition of over 200 organizations is rallying together to urge the New York state to establish a new revenue source for climate change adaptation costs. Their argument is simple and straightforward; the fossil fuel industry, which has significantly contributed to global warming, should bear the financial burden of these costs.
These organizations have written a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul, imploring her to include the Climate Change Superfund Act in the upcoming budget. The New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) has estimated that New York taxpayers have already spent approximately $2.7 billion on the impacts of climate change over the past 13 months alone. These costs have been incurred through a range of actions including climate damage repair, resilience projects, and community protection programs.
Labor leader Fred Kowal has openly advocated for the economic impacts of climate change to be shouldered by oil companies. His stance aligns with the seven generations principle of the Haudenosaunee, the Indigenous people of New York State. This principle emphasizes the importance of considering the consequences of our decisions on the next seven generations.
This movement toward holding fossil fuel companies accountable for their contribution to climate change isn’t unique to New York. In fact, California is currently suing five of the world’s largest oil and gas companies for allegedly misleading consumers about the potential harm of their products.
The number of global climate change-related lawsuits has seen a significant increase, doubling since 2015. The majority of these cases are directed at governments or fossil fuel companies, marking a shift in how society perceives responsibility for the ongoing climate crisis.
The environmental justice movement has played a crucial role in highlighting the disproportionate impact of climate change on marginalized communities. These communities often bear the brunt of climate change impacts, while having contributed the least to the problem.
The U.S. Climate Change Litigation Database, a project of Columbia Law School, has been tracking every climate change-related case. Astonishingly, of the 2,002 global climate cases logged, 71% have been filed in U.S. courts. This demonstrates the growing trend in the United States to use legal avenues to combat climate change and hold those responsible accountable.
As the climate crisis continues to intensify, it is clear that more action is needed. The call for the fossil fuel industry to bear the cost of climate change adaptation is not only fair, but it could also be a crucial step towards a more sustainable and just future.
