{"id":3308,"date":"2026-04-08T03:43:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T03:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatevdo.com\/?p=3308"},"modified":"2026-04-10T20:19:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T20:19:40","slug":"connecticut-organizations-urge-federal-leaders-to-protect-climate-accountability-efforts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatevdo.com\/?p=3308","title":{"rendered":"Connecticut Organizations Urge Federal Leaders to Protect Climate Accountability Efforts"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Advocates warn that fossil fuel industry efforts to secure federal legal immunity could undermine Connecticut\u2019s climate accountability and polluter pays efforts.<\/em><\/p>\n

CONNECTICUT\u00a0\u2014 As Big Oil\u00a0lobbies<\/a>\u00a0Congress and the Trump administration for legal immunity from laws and lawsuits aiming to hold them accountable for their role in the climate crisis, 78 Connecticut organizations are calling on federal leaders to ensure that states and communities can continue to hold polluters accountable.<\/p>\n

In\u00a0a letter<\/a>\u00a0delivered to Senator Richard Blumenthal today, a coalition of Connecticut organizations raised concerns about the fossil fuel industry\u2019s growing efforts to seek federal legal immunity from state laws and lawsuits aimed at addressing climate-related harms.<\/p>\n

The letter delivery and related advocacy efforts are being coordinated by a group of local and regional partners, including Sierra Club of Connecticut, PACE (People\u2019s Action for Clean Energy), The EV Club of CT, People for Planet and Democracy and other participating co-sponsoring organizations.<\/p>\n

Connecticut is one of many states\u00a0taking ExxonMobil to court<\/a>\u00a0for violating state consumer protection laws through \u201congoing, systematic campaign of lies and deception to hide from the public what ExxonMobil has known for decades\u2014that burning fossil fuels undeniably contributes to climate change.\u201d State legislators have also proposed a \u201cClimate Change Superfund<\/a>\u201d that would require polluters to pay for climate damages. Both of those state accountability efforts could be blocked if Congress grants the fossil fuel industry immunity.<\/p>\n

The letter is part of a broader, multi-state effort to ensure that federal action does not interfere with state-level climate accountability initiatives.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe climate crisis is escalating every day and our communities across the country are bearing the brunt of the financial, environmental, and personal impacts,\u201d the letter states. \u201cAs the costs worsen and extreme weather events become more commonplace, governments, businesses, community members, and others must retain access to legal and legislative tools to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for the damage they knowingly caused.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sierra Club Connecticut<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cConnecticut taxpayers are currently shouldering the full cost of the climate crisis. As climate-fueled disasters intensify and hit our communities with increasing frequency, it is unacceptable that major oil companies are pushing for legal immunity instead of taking responsibility. For decades, these companies have misled the public and fought against meaningful climate action, all while profiting from the damage. Policies like Climate Superfund legislation are critical to shifting the financial burden off residents and onto the corporations responsible for climate damages. We must hold polluters accountable for the harm they have caused and reject any attempt to shield them from liability,\u201d said\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>Julianna Larue, Organizer, Sierra Club Connecticut.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Peoples Action for Clean Energy<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cConnecticut families are already paying the price for climate impacts,\u201d said\u00a0Mark Scully, President of PACE<\/strong>. \u201cEnsuring polluters are held accountable is a matter of fairness and long term affordability.\u201d<\/p>\n

EV Club of Connecticut<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAs we work toward a cleaner energy future, accountability remains a critical piece of the puzzle,\u201d said\u00a0Barry Kresch, President, EV Club of Connecticut.\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cPolicies that limit that accountability risk slowing progress and increasing costs for communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

People for Planet and Democracy<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThis effort brings people together around shared values of fairness, accountability, and care for our communities,\u201d said\u00a0Mike Urgo, founder of People for Planet and Democracy.\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cPeople across Connecticut want to be part of solutions that protect our environment and ensure that those responsible for harm can be held accountable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sunrise Wesleyan\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cYoung people and future generations are counting on leaders to uphold accountability,\u201d said\u00a0Aviva Branoff, Hub Coordinator of Sunrise Wesleyan.\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cDecisions made now will shape the health and stability of our communities for years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

A copy of the letter is available\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Photos from the letter delivery are available\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Tomorrow, on April 8 at 7 pm ET, there will be a statewide virtual TeleTown Hall with Senator Blumenthal. RSVP\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The following organizations co-issued this release and signed the letter:<\/strong><\/p>\n

People for Planet and Democracy
Sierra Club Connecticut
PACE People\u2019s Action for Clean Energy
EV Club of CT
Environmental Solidarity Network
Sunrise Wesleyan<\/p>\n\n

About the Sierra Club<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Sierra Club is America\u2019s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person\u2019s right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action.\u00a0For more information, visit\u00a0www.sierraclub.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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