Pass the Polluters Pay Climate Fund Act
To the Editor,
From deadly heat waves to ferocious hurricanes and raging wildfires, average people from communities across the nation are having to pay for climate disasters. Families are facing higher insurance premiums, soaring food costs, and mounting health bills. Meanwhile, the fossil fuel companies driving this crisis are raking in record profits, without paying a dime toward the damages they have caused.
The current political climate has instilled a deep sense of powerlessness in me, and I’m sure many others as well. As much as individuals may try to lower their personal emissions and do things to protect the environment, a handful of powerful politicians and large companies are able to counteract these efforts with ease. A study called the Carbon Majors Database found that over half of the world’s industrial emissions can be traced to just 25 companies/entities. If companies such as these were held accountable and forced to pay for the consequences of their operations, it would have a massively positive impact on the environment and on human health.
The Polluters Pay Climate Fund Act in Congress would require Big Oil to contribute just a small share of profits to a federal fund. That climate fund would help rebuild communities after disasters, protect frontline neighborhoods, and invest in resilience so we’re better prepared for the next storm, flood, or fire.
We’ve seen states like Vermont and New York already lead with climate superfund laws, but we need action at the federal level. Our leaders in Congress must put people over polluter profits and pass the Polluters Pay Climate Fund Act.
Meg Taylor