Burnt building with charred debris in the foreground.

California considers taxing energy companies to fund climate disaster costs

As wildfires continue to rage in Los Angeles, advocates are urging California to adopt a "climate superfund" law requiring fossil fuel companies to pay for climate-related damages, following similar laws in New York and Vermont.

Karen Zraick reports for The New York Times.


In short:

  • New York and Vermont passed "climate superfund" laws requiring energy companies to pay for climate-related damages, but these laws face legal challenges from the oil industry.
  • California may revisit a similar bill, as taxpayers currently bear the full cost of wildfires and other climate disasters.
  • These laws rely on "attribution science," which connects climate damages to specific companies’ emissions.

Key quote:

“Taxpayers are shouldering 100 percent of the burden of climate-fueled disasters.”

— Kassie Siegel, director of the Climate Law Institute at the Center for Biological Diversity

Why this matters:

Rising climate costs from disasters like wildfires are straining public resources. Shifting financial responsibility to fossil fuel companies could relieve taxpayers and create incentives to reduce emissions. Legal battles will determine whether these efforts succeed.

Read more: Americans pay a steep price for weather disasters

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Trump administration considers overhauling FEMA’s role in disaster relief

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said she would advise President Donald Trump to dismantle the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in its current form and give local officials more control over disaster aid distribution.

Ian Duncan reports for The Washington Post.

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Credit: CDC/Unsplash

Scientists face disruptions as Trump’s orders freeze research funding

Researchers across the U.S. are grappling with halted payments and uncertainty after Trump’s executive orders affected federal grant funding, sparking concerns about political interference in science.

Eric Holthaus reports for The Guardian.

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Trump's freeze on clean energy funds hits Republican districts hardest

President Trump’s halt on federal clean energy funding is stalling billions in investments, with most of the economic fallout affecting Republican-led states that had benefited from Biden-era climate incentives.

Lisa Friedman, Brad Plumer and Harry Stevens report for The New York Times.

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New EPA Region 6 leader has deep ties to industry-friendly policies

Scott Mason IV, a former Oklahoma energy official and advisor to the conservative Project 2025 initiative, will oversee the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Region 6, which includes Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Arkansas, Oklahoma and 66 tribal nations.

Martha Pskowski reports for Inside Climate News.

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Environmental group left in limbo after federal grant suddenly vanishes

A South Carolina environmental nonprofit lost access to a $365,000 federal grant after the Trump administration froze Inflation Reduction Act funds, leaving critical air monitoring projects in marginalized communities at risk.

Lisa Sorg reports for Inside Climate News.

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Order to halt EV charger funding faces hurdles

President Donald Trump has ordered states to stop using federal funds for electric vehicle chargers, but legal and market forces may limit his ability to derail the expansion.

Alexa St. John and Isabella O’Malley report for The Associated Press.

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Clean energy advocates shift focus to jobs and profits in new messaging

Clean energy leaders are emphasizing economic benefits over climate concerns, hoping to appeal to policymakers who prioritize financial growth over environmental action.

Seth Borenstein and Alexa St. John report for The Associated Press.

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