Lawmakers hope to use this emerging climate science to charge oil companies for disasters • Alaska Beacon

A Fast-Emerging Field of Climate Research

A fast-emerging field of climate research is helping scientists pinpoint just how many dollars from a natural disaster can be tied to the historic emissions of individual oil companies — analysis that is the centerpiece of new state efforts to make fossil fuel companies pay billions for floods, wildfires, and heat waves.

Using Attribution Science to Determine Responsibility

When a flood or wildfire hits, researchers in “attribution science” run computer models to help determine whether the disaster was caused or intensified by climate change. As those models become more precise, other scientists are working to measure how specific companies, such as Exxon Mobil or Shell, have contributed to climate change through their historic greenhouse gas emissions.

“This is a growing field, and it’s a game changer for addressing climate change,” said Delta Merner, the lead scientist for the Science Hub for Climate Litigation at the Union of Concerned Scientists, a climate-focused research and advocacy nonprofit. “It has a role to play in litigation and in policy because it gives us that precision.”

State Efforts to Hold Companies Accountable

For the first time, some state lawmakers are trying to turn that advanced modeling into policy. Under their proposals, state agencies would use attribution science to tally up the damages caused by climate change and identify the companies responsible. Then, they would send each company a bill for its portion of the destruction, from heat waves to hurricanes.

Lawmakers in Vermont and four other blue states have proposed “climate Superfund” bills, which would create funds to pay for recovery from climate disasters and preparation for sea level rise and other adaptation measures. Oil and coal companies would pay into those funds based on the percentage of emissions they’ve caused over a set period.

Legislative Push for Climate Superfund Bills

The push for climate Superfund legislation began with a federal bill in 2021, backed by U.S. Senate Democrats, that failed to pass. Lawmakers in a handful of states introduced their own proposals in the following years. Now, Vermont could soon become the first to enact a law.

Vermont’s measure would task the state treasurer with calculating the costs of needed climate adaptation work, as well as the damage inflicted by previous disasters such as last summer’s devastating floods. The program would collect money from companies that emitted more than 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide around the world from 1995 to the present day.

Challenges Ahead

If legislatures in Vermont and elsewhere pass climate Superfund bills, the state officials who carry them out are expected to rely heavily on researcher Richard Heede’s “Carbon Majors” project, which has tallied the historic emissions of 108 fossil fuel producers using public data. However, legal challenges from oil companies are anticipated if these proposals become law.

Advocates acknowledged the bill will face legal challenges, but said that’s not a reason to pause their efforts. “Vermont is already paying through the nose for the climate crisis,” Walsh said. “The sooner we pass a law like this, the sooner we could actually see these companies be held financially accountable.”

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The article discusses the use of attribution science to determine the contribution of individual oil companies to climate change and the potential implementation of “climate Superfund” bills to hold these companies accountable for the damages caused by climate change. This aligns with SDG 13, which focuses on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. Additionally, the article mentions lawsuits by state attorneys general against fossil fuel companies, indicating a connection to SDG 16, which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development and provide access to justice for all.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters
• SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
• SDG 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all

The article highlights the use of attribution science to determine the contribution of individual oil companies to climate change and the potential implementation of “climate Superfund” bills to hold these companies accountable for the damages caused by climate change. These actions align with the targets under SDG 13.1 and SDG 13.2, which aim to strengthen resilience to climate-related hazards and integrate climate change measures into policies and planning. Additionally, the lawsuits by state attorneys general against fossil fuel companies indicate efforts to promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice, aligning with the target under SDG 16.3.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator: Use of attribution science models to determine the contribution of individual oil companies to climate change
• Indicator: Implementation of “climate Superfund” bills to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for damages caused by climate change
• Indicator: Number of lawsuits filed by state attorneys general against fossil fuel companies

The article mentions the use of attribution science models to determine the contribution of individual oil companies to climate change. This can be seen as an indicator of progress towards the targets under SDG 13.1 and SDG 13.2. Additionally, the potential implementation of “climate Superfund” bills and the number of lawsuits filed by state attorneys general against fossil fuel companies can serve as indicators of progress towards the target under SDG 16.3.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: alaskabeacon.com

Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.