- Vermont Leads Climate Action: Despite its small size, Vermont becomes the first state to hold major fossil fuel emitters accountable for climate change with a new Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program.
- Fossil Fuel Impact: Fossil fuels are the primary contributors to climate change, with over 75% of greenhouse gas emissions. Vermont has faced severe climate-related events, including $2.2 billion in damages from flooding in 2023.
- Legislative Challenges: Vermont’s bill faces legal opposition from the American Petroleum Institute but has bipartisan support. Its success may influence similar efforts in California, Maryland, Massachusetts, and New York.
When setting an example for other states, New York, Florida, Texas, and California would be popular options to spearhead the effort, as the most populous and well-known regions. However, the second-least populous state, a state so small that it only has one area code, is the first of its kind to attempt to hold major fossil fuel emitters responsible for the acceleration of climate change.
Oil, Gas, and Climate Change
The direct and positive correlation between fossil fuels and climate change has been well-documented in recent years. According to the United Nations, fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas are the biggest causes of climate change, accounting for more than 75% of greenhouse gas emissions and almost 90% of carbon dioxide emissions. These emissions trap the sun’s heat and prevent it from escaping Earth’s atmosphere, thereby increasing surface temperatures. A warmer climate has a domino effect on all aspects of Earth, as it disrupts weather patterns, causing more frequent and more severe natural disasters, exacerbates food and water shortages, and significantly degrades biodiversity, among other tragedies.
Vermont’s Past History
Vermont is no stranger to extreme weather and climate change-related events. The National Review reported that in July of 2023, the state received two months’ worth of rainfall in just two days, causing widespread flooding, $2.2 billion in damages, and 13 deaths. In addition, the preceding winter was the warmest in Vermont’s history. As Vermont has one of the lowest GDPs in the nation, at just $35.07 billion, homeowners struggled to rebuild their houses, and businesses missed out on the busy summer and fall consumer seasons.
Bill S.259: A Historic Passage
According to the National Review, the bill will establish a Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program under the jurisdiction of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. Entities found to have emitted more than a billion metric tons of greenhouse gasses, such as carbon dioxide, within the last 30 years will have to pay their share of the costs incurred by Vermont residents. Republican Governor Phil Scott touted the support for the bill, noting that he “understood the desire to seek funding to minimize the effects of climate change that has damaged our state in a multitude of ways.” The bill also has bipartisan support, as Vermont’s Democratic-controlled legislature passed it and sent it for Scott’s approval.
What Next?
The bill already has an uphill climb, facing numerous legal challenges. The Associated Press reported that the American Petroleum Institute, the primary advocacy group for the oil and gas industry, strongly opposed the bill’s passage, claiming that it “retroactively imposes costs and liabilities on previous activities that were legal at the time, and unfairly punishes corporations for the actions of society as a whole.” However, Vermont Democrat representative Martin LaLonde and the state attorney general are among those who strongly believe in the bill’s legal prospects. CBS News noted that California, Maryland, Massachusetts, and New York are also considering similar climate change legislation, yet will hinge on whether Vermont’s proposal overcomes legal blowback.
