There are so many arguments and issues surrounding the climate crisis, but all circle back to one major factor affecting global warming – the burning of fossil fuels. Whether you are working to end plastic pollution, aid communities damaged by natural disasters, or discovering alternate energy sources, these solutions all attempt to remedy the devastating effects of constant air pollution from burning fossil fuels.

Large fossil fuel companies such as Chevron and Exxon, otherwise known as Big Oil, play a large role in contributing to air pollution. The Make Polluters Pay Bill is an effort to force Big Oil to pay for the damage they have caused to various communities due to its colossal impact on the environment, leading to natural disasters that devastate communities. Even though Big Oil causes so much damage to people’s lives, they still make huge profits off of people because of our dependence on oil. The Make Polluters Pay Bill demands Big Oil acknowledges their environmental impact and pay for climate disasters. Even once a community recovers from an environmental disaster, citizens must pay higher home insurance and electricity bills just to protect themselves from more damage. Across the U.S., states, cities, and municipalities are working to bring justice to damaged communities by suing oil companies and making them pay reparations.  In our own communities, protests and gatherings are very helpful in advocating for bills like these to be passed.  

This bill is so important because it doesn’t just mean lowering emissions – it also means bringing justice to various communities. Air pollution – and therefore global warming – forces so many people out of their homes and/or into economic disparity. For a large company to acknowledge this loss and attempt to repair damages, affected people will receive the recognition and justice they deserve.

In my opinion, advocacy is the most important course of action as if we are not constantly fighting for change, the problem will continue. One way to do this is learning more about how burning fossil fuels impacts and harms communities and joining environmental advocacy groups. It is much more effective to get a point across if there are others validating your points, and this is why group efforts are so critical to the climate fight!

Source: https://makepolluterspay.net/