r/climate 2d ago

New York to fine fossil fuel companies $75 billion under new climate law

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/new-york-fine-fossil-fuel-companies-75-billion-under-new-climate-law-2024-12-26/
270 Upvotes

34 comments sorted by

26

u/Oldcadillac 1d ago

 New York state will fine fossil fuel companies a total of $75 billion over the next 25 years to pay for damage caused to the climate under a bill Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law on Thursday.

Ah, there’s the catch

8

u/Frubanoid 1d ago

Better than nothing

4

u/booksonbooks44 1d ago

Assuming it's equally spread, 3 billion a year isn't bad. Although I agree it could be better

1

u/abrandis 1d ago

How bout not causing as much damage in the first place....maybe going EV and mandating green power resources..

0

u/newprofile15 21h ago

Catch is that it’s unconstitutional and law will be invalidated within a year.

4

u/tingulz 1d ago

Why so low? Should be $750 billion.

3

u/dumnezero 1d ago

Is she still tergiversating the plan for congestion pricing?

2

u/alpha-bets 1d ago

We need go read the complete law. I don't think the companies will pay anything. There will be exceptions.

6

u/Frubanoid 1d ago edited 1d ago

Instead of speculating about exceptions, go find us an example in the law!

-1

u/alpha-bets 1d ago

When I have some free time I will but these laws don't get passed unless there are exceptions which most of them will qualify for.

-53

u/PinkFloydSorrow 1d ago

Sweet. So we can expect the cost of gas and heating our homes to increase. Thanks Kathy.

28

u/Nurofae 1d ago

Are you sarcastic or short sighted?

12

u/Bowler_Pristine 1d ago

It’s just a moron, don’t bother!

-31

u/PinkFloydSorrow 1d ago

What do you mean by short sighted? If NYS starts suing oil and gas companies, most likely our prices for heating our homes and filling our gas tank will increase.

16

u/SyntheticSlime 1d ago

Things are gonna be a lot more expensive when the AMOC collapses and all our agriculture goes to hell.

0

u/GoldenMegaStaff 1d ago

They will still need to heat their homes; what is the alternative and who is paying for it?

3

u/SyntheticSlime 1d ago

Any other form of energy and everyone.

2

u/StolenPies 1d ago

They're talking about the destruction of the Atlantic currents, triggering cataclysmic, globally destructive and rapid changes to every biome and affecting every human on earth, particularly in eastern North America and all of Europe and North Africa, and you're worried about who is going to pay for the transition to power sources that are already cheaper than what you're using? That's like asking who's going to pay for a $4 bottle of penicillin and arguing against treatment due to expense for your child's life threatening infection.

0

u/GoldenMegaStaff 1d ago

Maybe the NY politicians should stop describing this as a fine and own up that it is just a tax on the consumer and the money will go to line their pockets. Anyways, sounds like they managed to save the world from AMOC collapse while funding their retirement.

2

u/StolenPies 1d ago

You're right, this money should be fully diverted to funding renewables.

12

u/StolenPies 1d ago

So, short-sighted.

-11

u/greenringrayner 1d ago

not "most likely", 100% guaranteed.

6

u/MeteorOnMars 1d ago

Hmm, maybe you are right.

Instead we should be taking up a collection among citizens and giving fossil fuel companies money. Then they will reduce the cost of fuel!

How about each citizen give say $10,000 to Big Oil. I’m sure they will be real nice to us then.

0

u/PinkFloydSorrow 1d ago

I sense sarcasm. And as you know, you don't have $10k to give but I like where your head is at.

3

u/FlapMyCheeksToFly 1d ago

What's more important, the climate or the silly prices we pay for our lil' trinkets?

1

u/Mr_WindowSmasher 1d ago

The cost of gas is already subsidized to the point of being practically free, and so are cars, and so is car infrastructure.

At this point, the government is literally paying you to cook your planet to death, kill 40k innocent strangers a year (more than non-suicidal gun deaths), nearly infinite injuries, destroying urban fabric, destroying ecosystems, and creating unsustainable tax revenue models that can never cover what they cost.

So f your gas prices. I hope it goes up to $12 a gallon.

1

u/Fine_Permit5337 1d ago

If gas went to $12/gal, every politician would be voted out of office. Go with a brigade and blockade a popular gas station. See what happens.

Oil companies can’t sell fuel to people who don’t want it.

https://youtu.be/auQfXObDddI?feature=shared

Billy Bob nails it.