Vermont becomes 1st state to enact law requiring oil companies pay for damage from climate change [Lisa Rathke | May 31, 2024 | Associated Press] (apnews.com)

submitted 5 months ago by jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.world to c/politics@lemmy.world

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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/16031233

Republican Gov. Phil Scott allowed the bill to become law without his signature late Thursday, saying he is very concerned about the costs and outcome of the small state taking on “Big Oil” alone in what will likely be a grueling legal fight. But he acknowledged that he understands something has to be done to address the toll of climate change.

Under the legislation, the Vermont state treasurer, in consultation with the Agency of Natural Resources, would provide a report by Jan. 15, 2026, on the total cost to Vermonters and the state from the emission of greenhouse gases from Jan. 1, 1995, to Dec. 31, 2024. The assessment would look at the affects on public health, natural resources, agriculture, economic development, housing and other areas. The state would use federal data to determine the amount of covered greenhouse gas emissions attributed to a fossil fuel company.

The American Petroleum Institute, the top lobbying group for the oil and gas industry, has said it’s extremely concerned the legislation “retroactively imposes costs and liability on prior activities that were legal, violates equal protection and due process rights by holding companies responsible for the actions of society at large; and is preempted by federal law.” It also said in a letter to lawmakers before the bill became law that the measure does not provide notice to potential affected businesses about the size of the potential fees.

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[-] karashta@lemm.ee 10 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Gotta love the old "it's society at large's fault" even though they knowingly have let the world burn for their profit as well as suppressed innovation and information that could have helped alleviate our issues.

Oh and literally bribe our government to write laws to make them unaccountable.

Fuck these people. They are monsters.

If they want to have more rights than real people, they should have more accountability and responsibility, not less.

this post was submitted on 31 May 2024

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