In a nutshellClimate change is proving costly for taxpayers, with millions of dollars already allocated to climate change mitigation measures and predictions of billions more in economic, health, and environmental damages in the coming years. As the debate rages on, the question remains: should Vermonters foot the bill, or should the big oil companies that knowingly contributed to the problem step up and take responsibility for the mess they created? Vermont's Climate Change Superfund Act would require Big Oil to to do just that. The big pictureBurning fossil fuels releases harmful pollutants that contribute to air pollution, respiratory illnesses, and premature deaths. Big Oil companies knew about the risks associated with carbon pollution but chose to prioritize profits over the well-being of people and the planet.

Source: New York Times June 25, 2023 19:14 UTC