Vermont Enacts Landmark Law Making Oil Companies Pay for Climate Damages

Vermont has enacted a groundbreaking law requiring fossil fuel companies to pay for climate change-related weather disaster costs, making it the first state in the U.S. to do so. The "Climate Superfund Act" mandates that companies responsible for significant carbon emissions from 2000 to 2019 contribute to recovery and preparation efforts for extreme weather events. While the law has garnered support for holding polluters accountable, it faces potential legal challenges and opposition from the fossil fuel industry. Similar policies are being considered in other states like Massachusetts, Maryland, and New York.