SB 982 could give the state a way to force oil companies to pay for their role.
This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting,-related disasters like fires and floods drive up insurance costs in California, state Sen.
Scott Wiener and fire survivors are pushing for a bill that could give the state a way to force oil companies to pay for their role.that did not pass last year in the wake of the devastating Los Angeles-area fires, aims to blunt rising insurance costs by allowing the state attorney general to sue fossil fuel companies for damages connected to a climate disaster such as a wildfire, heat wave, drought or storm. In a hearing at the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, supporters and opponents shared their thoughts on the bill with lawmakers.
Gayle Ali and her husband, Rasheed, said they were celebrating their 43rd wedding anniversary when the Eaton Fire destroyed their house in Altadena, where they have lived for 30 years. The fire took her photo studio, her husband’s music studio, furniture, cars and family photos. If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less.
They’re rebuilding with the help of their community and crowdfunding grants, but they don’t know if insurance will be available or how much it will cost in the future.
“What truly angers me is knowing that this wasn’t just bad luck,” Ali said. “I’ve since learned that back in the ’80s, years before we bought our home, Exxon’s own scientists warned the effects of their products would be catastrophic. They chose to hide the truth and spend millions on PR campaigns that are still running today. They keep profiting while putting our communities in danger.
”California has cleared an initiative aiming to cancel Measure ULA and similar taxes across the state. But it might not be November’s only “mansion tax” measure. LA homeless agency has ‘significant’ problem with inaccurate financial statements, auditors find The issues surround poor bookkeeping and accounting of taxpayer money at the agency — which spent over $800 million in public funds last fiscal year.showing that burning fossil fuel would contribute to global warming, which intensifies extreme disasters like fires and floods.
Publicly, however, they sought to undermine the science and cast doubt on the effects of human-caused climate change. Meanwhile, they have continued to “While so much of our community has lost everything — I mean everything — and so many families can barely afford food, let alone rebuild, the five largest oil corporations made nearly $400 billion in profit over the last three years,” Ali said.
Yet right now, taxpayers and disaster survivors are the only ones paying for climate change, she said.
“We have to ask, who’s not paying? ” Wiener said while speaking in support of his bill.
“We know that the victims, the survivors, are paying in profound ways. Taxpayers are paying. And of course, policyholders are paying with much higher premiums. Who’s not paying?
The answer is the fossil fuel industry, the corporations whose products fueled this crisis by fueling climate change. ”is simplified from the proposal that Wiener and a colleague introduced last year, which would have allowed disaster survivors or insurance companies themselves to sue for damages.
“We heard the feedback ,” Wiener said. “This bill is profoundly narrower. ” In the bill’s current version, the amount of damages sought in a civil action filed by the attorney general would be in proportion to a company’s market share.
Any payouts would go to a newly created Attorney General Climate Disaster Fund and be distributed to policyholders; the California FAIR plan, which is the state’s insurer of last resort; the California Safe Homes grant program, which provides funding for fire-hardening work in high-risk areas; and to cover litigation costs.this month by the California Center for Jobs and the Economy details concerns ranging from higher premiums to less tax revenue. Wiener rebutted these concerns, saying that gas is a global commodity, with prices set by worldwide market forces and not “the threat of hypothetical litigation,” and that the analyses ignore the benefits of payments to disaster survivors.
Louise Bedsworth, executive director of UC Berkeley’s Center for Law, Energy, and the Environment, spoke in support of the bill and pointed out that by the end of the century, the average area burned by wildfire in the state is projected to You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community.
We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead . Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community. Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved.
The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
Attorney Change Climate Companies Damages Fossil Fuel General Sue
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Cal Fire to suspend all prescribed burns in San Diego County beginning May 1Significant vegetation growth, rising temperatures, low humidity and seasonal winds prompted the suspension, officials said.
Read more »
Tom Steyer has poured more than $100 million into his bid for California governorTom Steyer’s campaign spending is reshaping California’s governor’s race, boosting his standing in the polls even as other candidates gain or stall with far less money.
Read more »
Engadget review recap: DJI Osmo Pocket 4, Recteq X-Fire Pro and Alienware 27 QD-OLEDFind the latest technology news and expert tech product reviews. Learn about the latest gadgets and consumer tech products for entertainment, gaming, lifestyle and more.
Read more »
Man accused of opening fire outside White House Correspondents' Dinner is from Torrance, CaliforniaThe man accused of charging a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, firing at Secret Service, is from Torrance, ABC News learned.
Read more »
Man accused of opening fire outside White House Correspondents' Dinner is from Torrance, CaliforniaThe man accused of charging a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, firing at Secret Service, is from Torrance, ABC News learned.
Read more »
Man accused of opening fire outside White House Correspondents' Dinner is from Torrance, CaliforniaThe man accused of charging a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, firing at Secret Service, is from Torrance, ABC News learned.
Read more »