Big Oil: It’s Time to Clean Up Your Mess

The Illinois legislature is about to introduce the Climate Change Superfund Act, which would hold oil and gas companies accountable and ensure they pay a fair share for the local costs of responding to the climate crisis.

Tell your Illinois representatives to pass the Climate Change Superfund Act

The Illinois legislature is about to introduce the Climate Change Superfund Act, which would hold major fossil fuel producers financially accountable and ensure they pay a fair share for the local costs of responding to the climate crisis.

From extreme heat to intensifying rain storms, climate change has already caused extraordinary harm in Illinois. These disasters are placing a huge financial burden on our communities, but this isn’t our bill to pay.

The Climate Change Superfund Act would force the state’s largest fossil fuel producers to take responsibility for the damage they’ve caused. In Illinois, these funds could help protect Lake Michigan shorelines from erosion, ensure our power grid can handle strains from extreme weather, or create more cooling centers to protect people during heatwaves.

Big Oil made this mess. Together, we’re going to make them clean it up. Urge your representatives to pass the Illinois Climate Change Superfund Act.

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Your Message

Subject Pass the Climate Change Superfund Act

Dear state representative and state senator,

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Illinois has long been a leader on climate action and we have another opportunity to set an example for other states to follow. Vermont and New York have passed laws to require oil and gas companies to provide dedicated funding to help prepare for and recover from intensifying climate disasters. I urge you to make Illinois the next state to protect their residents with this legislation by passing the Climate Change Superfund Act.

Our state is already facing the costly impacts of climate change. We require $6.1 billion to retrofit schools with air conditioning systems that weren’t necessary when these buildings were constructed. Annual flood losses in the state have averaged $260 million since the 1980s, among the highest nationally. Those costs — a fraction of the overall costs to the state — are straining already overburdened state and local budgets. The Climate Change Superfund Act could provide funding for retrofitting buildings, public health costs, sewer upgrades, cooling centers, and all the other costs of adapting to the climate crisis.

Big Oil broke our climate and they should help pay for the damages. I’m calling on you to pass the Illinois Climate Change Superfund Act because a fair share of the costs of adapting to climate change should fall on oil and gas companies who bear a significant responsibility for the damages.

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