Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

BumRushDaShow

(137,925 posts)
Wed May 8, 2024, 04:28 AM May 2024

Vermont passes bill to charge fossil fuel companies for damage from climate change

Source: NBC News

May 7, 2024, 4:53 PM EDT


Vermont lawmakers passed a bill this week that is designed to make big fossil fuel companies pay for damage from weather disasters fueled by climate change.

The legislation is modeled after the Environmental Protection Agency’s superfund program, which requires the companies responsible for environmental contamination to either clean sites up themselves or reimburse the government for the costs of work to do so.

Vermont’s bill, referred to as its Climate Superfund Act, would similarly mandate that big oil companies and others with high emissions pay for damage caused by global warming.

The amounts owed would be determined based on calculations of the degree to which climate change contributed to extreme weather in Vermont, and how much money those weather disasters cost the state. From there, companies’ shares of the total would depend on how many metric tons of carbon dioxide each released into the atmosphere from 2000 to 2019.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/vermont-climate-superfund-bill-charge-companies-weather-damages-rcna150243

7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Vermont passes bill to charge fossil fuel companies for damage from climate change (Original Post) BumRushDaShow May 2024 OP
'The amounts owed would be determined based on calculations of the degree to which elleng May 2024 #1
This is EXCELLENT news!... Think. Again. May 2024 #2
They have been posting lavish profits for decades; Make them pay for their pollution. Mr. Sparkle May 2024 #3
Kudos to Vermont. Corporations have been externalizing the cost of their harmful practices for decades. ariadne0614 May 2024 #4
They've done it... 2naSalit May 2024 #5
Unfortunately. . . Aussie105 May 2024 #6
If more states do this, two things will happen. PatrickforB May 2024 #7

elleng

(134,777 posts)
1. 'The amounts owed would be determined based on calculations of the degree to which
Wed May 8, 2024, 04:33 AM
May 2024

climate change contributed to extreme weather in Vermont, and how much money those weather disasters cost the state.'

Think. Again.

(15,714 posts)
2. This is EXCELLENT news!...
Wed May 8, 2024, 05:09 AM
May 2024

...hopefully this bill can act as a precedent for other states to begin holding the fossil fuel industry responsible for the damage it is causing.

ariadne0614

(1,834 posts)
4. Kudos to Vermont. Corporations have been externalizing the cost of their harmful practices for decades.
Wed May 8, 2024, 06:53 AM
May 2024

They reap the profits, and taxpayers pay for cleaning up the mess.

Aussie105

(5,995 posts)
6. Unfortunately. . .
Wed May 8, 2024, 07:54 AM
May 2024

no amount of money will undo the pollution and climate change that is happening currently.

There are some problems that money can't fix.

PatrickforB

(14,949 posts)
7. If more states do this, two things will happen.
Wed May 8, 2024, 07:58 AM
May 2024

Millions of good jobs will be created as we move toward a clean economy and lower carbon footprint.

Fossil fuels will rise because the climate costs are now baked in, which will stimulate efforts to clean up the damage.

My point is that while it will result in steep price hikes for gasoline, which will hurt people living on Main Street, the overall effect should have some real benefit.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Vermont passes bill to ch...