Resolution - Superfund — File 25-1170

WHEREAS: This legislative session, Bill H.1014/S.588, “An Act establishing a climate change superfund,” also known as the Climate Superfund Bill, was filed; and WHEREAS: If passed, this bill would establish a climate change superfund into which the largest oil and gas companies would pay billions of dollars over 25 years, with each company’s share proportional to their contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions between 1995 and 2024, as determined by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs; and WHEREAS: Oil and gas companies bear the responsibility for exacerbating the climate crisis, and have consistently misrepresented the destructive impacts of fossil fuel combustion on the global climate; and WHEREAS: Climate change caused by global warming poses many serious threats to the City of Somerville and its residents, including extreme heat, flooding, poor air quality, and other extreme weather, which are already impacting the Somerville community; and WHEREAS: To adequately fund necessary climate adaptation and resilience projects, Somerville requires funding at a scale beyond the reasonable constraints of the City’s operating budget, and the passage of the proposed Climate Superfund legislation in the State House would provide the means for Somerville and other municipalities like it to adapt to climate impacts more adequately, equitably and meaningfully; and WHEREAS: The proposed legislation would mandate that 40% of the monies raised be allocated to projects benefiting environmental justice communities, encourage utilization of apprenticeship work programs, and encourage adherence to prevailing wage laws; and WHEREAS: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts currently does not have a plan to adequately, equitably and meaningfully fund necessary resilience and adaptation projects in affected communities like Somerville; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the Somerville City Council express its support of H.1014/S.588, “An Act establishing a climate change superfund;” to build polluter accountability and fund climate resilience; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the City Clerk forward a copy of this resolution to the Somerville legislative delegation as well as the House Speaker, Senate President, and the Office of the Governor.