Trump says ‘drill, baby, drill.’ N.J. can make Big Oil pay for impacts on climate | Opinion

By Matthew Smith

Donald Trump’s first month in office has been a dizzying assault to the federal government on all fronts. But amidst the chaos, his actions on climate might be the most consequential of all. Through executive orders and cabinet appointments, the administration is tearing up environmental regulations at breakneck pace as it implements its “drill, baby, drill” agenda.

In the face of this onslaught, it’s never been more important for New Jersey to stand up as a climate leader. After all, if the federal government isn’t going to help protect states from the ever-worsening impacts of climate chaos, it’s up to us to protect ourselves. Fortunately, a bill is gaining momentum across the state that would allow us to do just that.

The New Jersey Climate Superfund Act, modeled after similar bills in Vermont, New York and other states, holds fossil fuel companies – not taxpayers – financially liable for addressing the growing costs of climate change. Rather than residents footing the bill for increasingly extreme weather and natural disasters, it compels the companies that profited off this problem – responsible for more than one billion tons of greenhouse gas pollution since 1995 – to clean up the mess they made.

So how exactly would the Climate Superfund Act work? Broadly, the bill empowers New Jersey to assess and collect on the damages caused by climate change over the past 30 years by fossil fuel companies — think Shell, Exxon, BP — that do business in the state. This revenue would fund a new state program to provide dedicated funding for everything from fortifying roads and bridges against extreme weather to building climate-resilient infrastructure for schools and public housing. It would also fund upgrades to our electrical grid and help safeguard New Jersey’s farms, fisheries and food systems from climate-driven threats.

This is sorely needed for New Jerseyans. Since 1980, the state has experienced 75 severe weather and climate events with losses exceeding $1 billion, and these events have increased in frequency in recent years as the effects of climate change have accelerated. These costs are nearly always passed along to consumers and taxpayers. As a low-lying coastal state, particularly one that frequently falls in the path of tropical storms, these costs will only continue to grow over time.

Fortunately, the Climate Superfund Act is rapidly gaining momentum and support across the state. In December, a key Senate committee passed the bill, pushing it closer to consideration by the full chamber.

Municipality after municipality are signing on in support of the bill, echoing a growing grassroots call for action.

But the work is far from done. Fossil fuel companies, sensing threat, have unleashed a legal war on other states that are attempting to implement these laws, hoping to bully states like New Jersey into retreating.

That’s why it’s never been more important for New Jerseyans to express support for this bill, and to urge their legislators to stand firm against the industry backlash. You can do just that by going to this website.

By championing the Climate Superfund Act, state leaders have a golden opportunity to demonstrate true national leadership at a time when it’s most needed.

As Trump surrounds himself with oligarchs and billionaires, New Jersey can hold multinational corporations accountable for the damage they’ve caused. While the White House tears apart environmental regulations, we can accelerate the transition to a clean energy future. And for Gov. Phil Murphy, who likes to tout himself as a climate champion, it’s a prime opportunity to solidify this legacy as a national climate leader during his final year in Trenton.

With an ally in the White House, fossil fuel companies think they have free license to keep polluting our air, water and communities while leaving New Jerseyans to clean up the mess. The Climate Superfund Act is our chance to fight back, while sending a resounding message that their era of unaccountable corporate abuse is over.

Matthew Smith is the New Jersey State Director at Food & Water Watch, a national nonprofit organization that works to ensure safe food, clean water and a livable climate for all.

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