vermont
Newsletter
Credit: Tingey Injury Law Firm/Unsplash
States push for fossil fuel companies to fund climate resilience
Several U.S. states are advancing legislation to make oil companies pay for the climate damages caused by their emissions.
In short:
- Vermont has enacted a climate superfund law, with New York and others considering similar measures.
- These bills, inspired by the federal Superfund program, would make oil companies pay for climate-related damages.
- The proposed laws would calculate costs based on emissions attributed to fossil fuels sold over specified periods.
Key quote:
“States and municipalities are suffering enormous costs from the damage associated with climate change and the money they have to spend now to prepare for the consequences they’re going to face in the future, at the same time as fossil fuel industry actors are posting record profits from creating these harms.”
— Martin Lockman, climate law fellow at the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Columbia University
Why this matters:
Climate superfund bills represent a significant step in holding fossil fuel companies accountable for environmental harm. They aim to provide essential funding for climate adaptation and resilience, shifting financial responsibility to those who contributed most to the problem.
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Vermont strengthens dam safety to prevent future flooding disasters
Vermont is overhauling dam safety regulations after last year's catastrophic flooding damaged numerous dams and endangered communities.
In short:
- Inspectors found that five dams failed, 50 were significantly damaged, and 57 were overtopped during last year's floods.
- The state is implementing stricter regulations and renovation projects to mitigate future flood risks and ensure dam safety.
- Vermont's new legislation, Act 121, increases funding and staffing for dam safety, bringing oversight of all state dams under one agency by 2028.
Key quote:
“It’s a big deal. The dam safety program is evolving significantly, in a good direction.”
— Neil Kamman, director of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation’s Water Investment Division.
Why this matters:
The new regulations aim to enhance the structural integrity of dams across Vermont, ensuring they can withstand increasingly extreme weather patterns linked to climate change. This move is not just about preventing future disasters but also about protecting the environment and public health.
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Credit: SeanPavonePhoto/Big Stock Photo
Vermont debates new climate compensation bill targeting fossil fuel firms
Vermont is considering a groundbreaking bill that would use a "Superfund" model to recover costs from fossil fuel companies for climate-related damages, reflecting a shift toward climate adaptation.
In short:
- The proposed Climate Superfund Act in Vermont aims to implement the "polluter pays" principle to address costs from climate change impacts.
- The bill has passed the Vermont Senate and is supported by a majority in the House, signaling strong legislative backing.
- Financial contributions from fossil fuel companies would fund infrastructure updates and other adaptive measures in Vermont.
Key quote:
“One thing that it definitely isn’t about is cutting carbon pollution. This one really is about what are the effects of the climate crisis going to be on Vermont, how we make them less severe, less costly, and how do we pay for them when they inevitably do come?”
— Ben Edgerly-Walsh, director the climate and energy program at the Vermont Public Interest Research Group
Why this matters:
This bill could set a precedent for other states, offering a template for linking climate-related damages to corporate accountability, and moving toward adaptation strategies.
Learn more about the impact fossil fuels have on our health: Fossil fuels and petrochemicals may be making us sicker.
Keep reading...Show less
States consider a Superfund for climate change to penalize Big Oil
Vermont joins three northeastern states in trying to make the fossil fuel industry pay for the damages wrought by climate change.
Newsletter
July flooding pulled nutrients, waste into Vermont's waters — and climate change is making it worse
At the peak of the flooding in July, more than 4 billion gallons of water flowed into Lake Champlain every hour carrying fuel oil, mercury, diesel, and phosphorus from upstream communities.
Photo by Gray Matter on Unsplash
Finding climate havens
How do you know whether a location is better suited for dealing with climate change than the place you live now? Experts point to two major factors.
Newsletter
Vermont’s flood-wracked capital city ponders a rebuild with one eye on climate change
The gutted shops, restaurants and businesses that lend downtown Montpelier its charm are considering where and how to rebuild in an era when extreme weather is occurring more often.
ORIGINAL REPORTING
MOST POPULAR
CLIMATE
