Bianca Sanchez, bianca.sanchez@sierraclub.org
NEW YORK -- The Trump administration filed lawsuits against New York and three other states this week to try to stop them from holding fossil fuel companies accountable for their role in damaging the climate and polluting communities.
Trump's Department of Justice announced it's suing New York and Vermont, challenging their climate superfund laws that would force fossil fuel companies to pay into state-based funds based on previous greenhouse gas emissions. The DOJ is also suing Hawaii and Michigan over their plans for legal action against fossil fuel companies for harms caused by climate change.
In response, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter Conservation Director Roger Downs issued the following statement:
“New Yorkers are desperate for climate solutions because they have directly experienced how increasingly severe storms, floods, droughts, heatwaves, and public health emergencies are hurting our communities and undermining the affordability of everything. Fossil fuel companies for decades have plunged our planet into the climate crisis, without contributing any of their profits to pay for the catastrophic damages they helped create.
“Thanks to Governor Hochul and the New York state legislature this gross inequity is about to change through the passage of the Climate Superfund Act. Trump’s unlawful attempt to undermine New York’s climate laws and protect big polluters from paying their fair share – only hurts everyday New Yorkers who have to foot the bill for every cleanup.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.