Earth Responsibility Score (ERS)’s Post

We at Earth Responsibility Score (ERS) applaud the bold steps taken by New York legislators in passing the Climate Change Superfund Act. This groundbreaking bill aims to hold fossil-fuel companies financially accountable for their significant contributions to climate change, potentially raising $3 billion annually for 25 years. These funds will be crucial for climate adaptation and mitigation efforts across the state. If signed into law, New York will join Vermont in pioneering this vital approach, with similar initiatives underway in California, Massachusetts, and Maryland. Despite anticipated legal challenges, this legislation represents a significant move towards environmental responsibility and corporate accountability. As we face increasing climate impacts, from flooding to pollution, such measures are essential. ERS supports these initiatives and encourages other states to follow suit in ensuring a sustainable future. #ClimateAction #SustainableBusiness #CorporateResponsibility #EarthResponsibilityScore #ClimateChange #EnvironmentalPolicy

Read the story at KQED Public Radio, “Proposition 4: California Approves $10 Billion Climate Bond,” by Ezra David Romero—November 6, 2024. “Californians overwhelmingly supported Proposition 4, a $10 billion climate bond to help the state prepare and adapt for the impacts of climate change. With more than half the votes counted, nearly 58% of votes favored the bond…. Proponents of the environmental bond, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, argued over the course of the campaign that it could prevent billions of dollars in damages from extreme storms, wildfires, drought, and rising sea levels... ‘With so much at stake, we’re eager to see a positive result that enables California to lead on climate action and secure a greener, more equitable future for our communities,’ said Mike Young, senior political and organizing director with California Environmental Voters… Lawmakers ultimately crafted a measure that funds work in eight key areas: water, wildfires, coastal resilience, nature-based solutions, clean air, outdoor access, extreme heat and climate-smart working lands. The bond also sets aside $475 million for offshore wind. ‘It prioritizes and enables robust, decisive action to advance our climate goals and enhance community resilience against climate impacts,’ said state Senate Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach)…”  See the full story below and at this link. https://lnkd.in/gdjTawVG #offshorewind #floatingwind #cleanenergy #renewables #climate #offshorewindca #pacificoffshorewindsummit

Washington voters chose this week to keep the Climate Commitment Act in place—a crucial win for climate progress: https://hubs.la/Q02XqKb80 By upholding this law, Washington will continue to leverage cap-and-invest policies that encourage accountability and innovation in the fight against climate change. This preserves the state's compliance carbon market that verifiably reduces emissions and drives measurable climate action and has already generated $1.8 billion. At Climate Vault, we are big believers in the notion that compliance carbon markets can be a powerful force for good. A market-based approach provides a simple but highly scalable, efficient, and verifiable way to combat climate change. This belief guides every area of our business. #climatechange #VaultIt #carbonmarkets #carbon #Washington

NYPIRG in the news: Hochul Pressured to Sign NY Bill Making Big Oil Pay for Climate Adaptation "'The historic legislative approval of the Climate Change Superfund Act,' NYPIRG said, 'is a huge step toward ensuring that Big Oil contributes to the mounting costs of climate catastrophe. Of course, the bill cannot become law without Gov. Hochul's approval, but the act helps protect taxpayers and allows revenues to be made available to contribute toward necessary—but expensive—resiliency projects.'" https://lnkd.in/ekcwZ6vf

Being the smallest does not mean you can't have the most impact. Kudos to Vermont for leading the way in taking climate change seriously and holding to account those contributing to climate change. According to the Guardian, "Vermont has become the first state to enact a law holding oil firms financially responsible for climate damages" #ESG #vermont #climatechange #impact #globalwarming https://lnkd.in/e6TWw8Tj

ANNOUNCING: Trump 2.0 and the Climate - November 12 Fort Collins ClimateCon exists in part to create open platforms for policy discussions around possible climate solutions, and in part to illuminate climate innovations and solutions. With that in mind, we scrambled up an extra session - on top of the 20+ sessions our amazing volunteer team has already assembled - to analyze and forecast what we can all expect from the incoming Trump Administration regarding the climate crisis. Register here https://climatecon.world/ and for more connect with Conference Leader Michael Scanlon Overview: This panel discussion will focus on how climate policy may change given the recent re-election of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States, as well as the “Red Wave” with the GOP retaking control of the Senate and possibly the House. The panel discussion will focus on the changes expected in climate policy at both Federal and State/Local levels. Moderator: Scott Simmons, Climate Reality Project - Northern Colorado and Board Member for Sustainable Windsor Scott has led the Northern Colorado chapter of Climate Reality Project for the past 2 years. The Climate Reality Project is a global network of 3.5 million climate activists working to build a just and sustainable true net zero future. Panelists: Cathy Kipp, Colorado State Representative for House District 52, which covers much of both south and east Fort Collins. Cathy has recently been elected to the Colorado State Senate where she will be representing District 14. Cathy is a fierce advocate for the climate by driving legislation on multiple climate initiatives. Andrew Klooster, Colorado Field Advocate for Earthworks Andrew works tirelessly with frontline Coloradans to document oil and gas pollution and expose the shortcomings in Colorado’s regulatory framework. Juan Madrid, Colorado Clean Transportation & Energy Policy Advocate for GreenLatinos. Juan is a Public Health Professional with 33 years of healthcare experience. Juan focuses on Environmental Health Science & Policy. Visit www.climatecon.world for more information and to register for this unforgettable conference. #climatecon #climate #ESG #netzero #carbon #FOCO 

As the damage of the carbon industries and their role in creating climate change becomes ever more evident I think many Blue states are going to follow what Vermont is doing. This issue of the responsibility of the carbon industries, I think, is going to become a major political issue strongly influenced by the corruption of Congress and state legislatures.

“We really, really need to focus on building more power at the local, tribal, and state and regional levels — understanding that because things are going to be moving much faster this time around, we really need to ramp up,” says KD Chavez, executive director of the Climate Justice Alliance. “We’re just really going to have to lean into our collective power.” Read the full article here on impacts if the election on #EnvironmentalJustice communities.

Besides the big bucks -- $4.3 billion -- and the geographic distribution, 25 projects across 30 red and blue states (see map below), what's important about the Climate Pollution Reduction grants that EPA announced on July 22 is that they continue to advance the key role of "subnational" cities and states in climate action. Cities and states across the U.S. stepped up in 2017, after former President Donald Trump took the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accords, and said they were still committed to the accords' target of limiting climate change to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Looking forward now, these grants are seed money; they will provide ongoing momentum for emission reduction programs at the local level, and as per my report in NetZero Insider, EPA is determined that the funds will be obligated -- signed, sealed and delivered -- by fall, i.e, they should be election-proof. RTO Insider LLC US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Click here to read on! https://lnkd.in/gsFEyKP4

Who is responsible for Climate Change? This is a big question but one that is being asked more and more around the world as governments and organisations feel the costs of climate change mount and call for accountability. In the US four states (Vermont, Maryland, Massachusetts, and New York) are attempting to do just that with 'Big Oil' by passing a bill which would require them to contribute to a climate fund based on their past emissions. The demand would have fossil fuel companies pay the states millions for climate impacts through funding of adaptation initiatives. The goal is to replicate another federal act, CERCLA, which held companies responsible for toxic waste dumps and spills.  It’s a powerful idea if it takes off, and given its pollution and it’s impact, it’s not hard to see the similarities. Vermont saw $1 billion in property damage following flooding last year, occurring after the state had begun to act. The bill would force companies who produced 1 billion metric tonnes of CO2 between 2000 and 2019 to pay a share of what CC has cost Vermont, based on their contribution to emissions. Separately, a draft statement out of the EU stated the intention to call on fossil fuel companies to help fund countries in need of climate adaptation. As the impacts of fossil fuels increase and the costs mount, it is likely more and more legislation and lawsuits will be pursued. With growing evidence of deception and misinformation from fossil fuel companies, the comparisons to tobacco are also interesting. We know the fossil fuel industry will fight till the very end, but as cases start winning and legislation comes into effect, that end may be sooner than we think. #climatejustice #emissionsreduction #climatefinance https://lnkd.in/e9UEMj-4