States pass laws requiring O&G to pay for climate change fix

[pixy0stix]

General discussion thread about the feasibility of individual states passing laws requiring O&G to pay for infrastructure updates to combat climate change.

Brought to you by this article about VT and such law (gift link): wapo.st/3RwxaIe

[pixy0stix]

I have a lot of conflicting thoughts about this:

1) That the O&G industry knew that it's industry was causing drastic changes to the environment since the late 70s, which they subsequently hid. They also used their influence to delay or bury any meaningful tech advancements regarding pollution, etc. Simultaneously, the EPA has been requiring car manufacturers to advertise the mpg rating of vehicles since the 70s, so there has been some government regulation.

2) Mid-80s scientists started loudly broadcasting their findings on climate change, the cause, and how bad it was going to get. I personally remember kids shows in the 80s tackling pollution, water conservation, etc. 2006 Al Gore's "Inconvenient Truth" came out and caused a big splash. The general public has known that their own, personal, choices are contributing to the state of the earth for over 40 years. Yet as the article states, most houses in VT are still heated with oil.

[pixy0stix]

Related - Could the U.S. Ban Fossil Fuel Ads?

www.scientificamerican.com/article/banning-fossil-fuel-ads-would-be-legally-difficult-in-the-u-s/


I almost made the comparison between the tobacco industry and the O&G industry and paying for their damages. We get funny about comparisons, though, lol!

[sillygoosegirl]

I'd rather a wellhead solution, definitely feel this makes more sense at the federal level, and the best time to have done this was 40-50 years ago, but I guess the 2nd best time is still now...

[aurora]

Can it be both?

I'd be in board with some sort of multiplier: for every $1 O&G spent between ~1980-now obfuscating the issue (lobbying politicians, trying to confuse the public, etc.) they pay, I don't know, $10? now towards a fix of the problem they were massive players in creating for no reason beyond lining their own pockets. (I haven't done any research to see if that's the right multiplier.)

In other words, you lie, you pay *more*.

We individuals are going to pay no matter what (increased insurance and energy bills, plus cleanup from natural disasters). ETA and we are paying those costs no matter whether we've been powering our homes with 100% renewables and commuting by bus, etc. or not.

[aurora]

Shout out to Naomi Oreskes' "Merchants of Doubt," one of the best books I've ever read on how these big companies lie to get advantages.