Vermont faces legal battle over its polluters-pay climate law
Fossil fuel industry groups have sued Vermont over its Climate Superfund Act, arguing the state law conflicts with federal regulations on greenhouse gas emissions.
Olivia Gieger reports for Inside Climate News.
In short:
- Vermont’s Climate Superfund Act holds fossil fuel companies financially liable for climate-related damages, with proceeds funding state climate adaptation efforts.
- The American Petroleum Institute and U.S. Chamber of Commerce claim the law is unconstitutional, citing federal preemption under the Clean Air Act.
- Legal experts anticipate a prolonged legal battle, which may set national precedents for state climate accountability laws.
Key quote:
“It will be a slog, and it will be nasty and mean and expensive as hell.”
— Pat Parenteau, emeritus professor, Vermont Law School’s Environmental Law Center and former EPA regional counsel
Why this matters:
Vermont’s legal battle over climate accountability holds significant implications for the future of environmental law and the financial consequences of a warming planet. The case, which focuses on the responsibility of fossil fuel companies for their contributions to climate change, could set a critical precedent for how states address the economic fallout of rising temperatures, more frequent disasters, and costly infrastructure adaptations.
Related: Oil and gas industry challenges Vermont climate accountability law
