Nonprofits urge state leaders to make big oil pay for climate damage

In response to California's newly announced budget shortfall, the Campaign for a Safe and Healthy California (CSHC) yesterday urged state leaders to consider AB 1243 and SB 684, the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act of 2025, as a solution to the state's budget woes. 

Capital & Main reported the push for these bills is facing opposition from lawmakers who had initially backed the bill. Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-San Luis Obispo) and state Sen. Caroline Menjivar (D-San Fernando Valley) postponed hearings for their bills in hopes of a better reception later this summer.

The legislation would require fossil fuel companies to pay their fair share for the climate damage they have caused in California, helping close the state's budget gap and affordability crisis.

"For decades, California's most powerful polluters—especially Big Oil—have treated communities of color as sacrifice zones," said Martha Dina Argüello, steering committee member of the Campaign and executive director of Physicians for Social Responsibility Los Angeles. "The health consequences have been severe: higher rates of asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and birth complications in neighborhoods forced to live with toxic emissions and drilling. At the same time, we're hit first and worst by climate disasters—wildfires, extreme heat, floods—that are intensified by the same fossil fuel pollution. Our communities are paying with their health and their lives while polluters profit. It's time to make Big Oil pay for the harm they've caused. That's why we strongly support the California Climate Superfund Bill."

A similar law passed in New York in 2024 is projected to generate $75 billion. With this law in place, California could generate $150 billion or more over the next two decades.

The 2025 Los Angeles wildfires are projected to cost the state between $250–275 billion in property damage, healthcare, emergency response, and economic losses. 

The bill would fund disaster recovery and emergency response, clean energy projects, public transit, and building decarbonization, community health and resilience infrastructure, support for displaced workers and essential responders. At least 40% of the funds would be directed to benefit disadvantaged communities.