Pollution Bills: What's Being Done To Fight Pollution?

There are several bills related to pollution and environmental protection that have been introduced in the United States Congress and state legislatures. At the federal level, the Pollution Prevention Act establishes a national policy implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to prevent or reduce pollution at its source. Executive orders related to pollution prevention and sustainability have also been issued by US presidents. Additionally, legislators have introduced bills such as the Polluters Pay Climate Fund Act, which aims to address climate challenges by holding fossil fuel companies accountable for their contributions to climate change. At the state level, bills have been introduced in at least 12 states to address the cumulative impacts of pollution, particularly on underserved and overburdened communities. These bills aim to decrease and reverse the disproportionate impacts of pollution on marginalized communities.

The Polluters Pay Climate Fund Act

For decades, fossil fuel companies have been aware of the negative impact of their industry on the environment and human health. Despite this knowledge, these companies have taken little to no action to remediate the harmful effects of their business practices and have instead prioritised profits. As a result, climate change-related extreme weather events have cost the United States at least $150 billion each year, with underserved and overburdened communities bearing the brunt of these impacts.

The legislation is designed to hold fossil fuel companies accountable and ensure they bear the costs of addressing the climate crisis they helped create. It is not intended to replace or preempt local or state-level climate lawsuits or superfund laws seeking to hold the fossil fuel industry accountable for deception and damages related to climate change. The act also does not impact the supply of gasoline or ongoing production costs, as the tax assessment is based on past activity.

Fossil fuel companies' accountability

Fossil fuel companies have long been aware of the negative environmental and human health impacts of their business practices. Despite this knowledge, many have taken little to no action to remediate these impacts, and some have even deceived the public about the climate crisis. As a result, communities are grappling with the mounting costs of climate disasters, and it is only fair that fossil fuel companies pay their fair share to address these issues.

The energy business is one of the largest industries in the world, and major fossil fuel companies routinely make billion-dollar profits by extracting and distributing oil, gas, and coal. Fossil fuels produce carbon dioxide (CO2) when burnt, and CO2 is the main driver of climate change. Instead of acknowledging the harmful effects of their products, many of the world's largest fossil fuel companies have knowingly deceived the public about climate science and policy. They have also actively worked to prevent climate action and undermine or limit the scope of climate policies and regulations, a tactic known as "greenwashing."

To address these concerns, there have been calls for fossil fuel companies to be held accountable through various means, including legislation, lawsuits, and public pressure. For example, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and U.S. Representatives Jerry Nadler and Judy Chu have introduced legislation called the Polluters Pay Climate Fund Act. This bill aims to require the largest polluters to pay into a fund based on their prior emissions, generating significant revenue to address climate challenges. Additionally, fossil fuel companies face a wave of new lawsuits alleging deceptive practices and potential fraud.

There are also calls for fossil fuel companies to take specific actions to demonstrate their accountability, such as rejecting disinformation on climate change, publicly disassociating themselves from lobbying groups, supporting sensible climate policies, and fully disclosing the financial and physical risks of climate change to their business operations. By taking these steps, fossil fuel companies can contribute to a more sustainable future and ensure that those who profited from pollution bear the costs of addressing the climate crisis.

Overall, the issue of fossil fuel company accountability is a critical aspect of addressing the climate crisis and ensuring a more sustainable future for all. By holding these companies responsible for their actions and ensuring they contribute to the solution, we can work towards a cleaner and more resilient energy future.

Environmental justice communities

The focus of these bills is to reduce and reverse the environmental stressors faced by overburdened communities, often in the form of polluting facilities located near their residences. For instance, bills in Arizona (H.B.2244/S.B.1508) and Pennsylvania (H.B.652) propose identifying "burdened communities" based on median income, while Rhode Island's legislation (S.B.770/H.B.6916) defines "environmental justice focus areas" by considering income, race, and language proficiency. Maryland's bills (S.B.0743/H.B.0840) aim to expand the definition of impacted communities to include underserved and climate-vulnerable areas, and Minnesota's bill (H.F.637) mandates the inclusion of detailed demographic analyses in environmental impact statements.

One notable bill, the Polluters Pay Climate Fund Act, introduced by Senator Chris Van Hollen, targets fossil fuel companies that have profited from their contributions to climate change. This legislation aims to hold these companies accountable by requiring them to pay into a fund based on their prior emissions, generating revenue to address the climate crisis.

These legislative efforts demonstrate a growing recognition of the need for a more holistic and equitable approach to environmental justice, ensuring that the communities bearing the brunt of pollution and climate change receive support and relief.

Source reduction

The United States is responsible for producing millions of tons of pollution annually and spends billions of dollars on pollution control. Source reduction, or pollution prevention, is a more desirable approach than waste management and pollution control. It involves reducing or eliminating waste at the source by modifying production processes, promoting the use of non-toxic or less toxic substances, implementing conservation techniques, and reusing materials.

The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 (S. 585 and H.R. 5931) aimed to establish a national policy of pollution prevention by creating a source reduction program at the Environmental Protection Agency. The bill also intended to assist states in providing information and technical assistance regarding source reduction. While the House passed H.R. 5931 on October 26, 1990, it did not receive a vote in the Senate, and neither bill was ultimately enacted. However, their provisions could have been incorporated into other legislation.

The Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act (Senate Bill 350) in California sets clean energy, clean air, and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals. It aims to reduce GHG emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80% by 2050. The bill also increases the state's renewable electricity procurement goal to 50% by 2030 and requires large utilities to develop and submit integrated resource plans to meet these targets. Additionally, it supports transportation electrification and directs state agencies to identify opportunities for renewable energy access, particularly for low-income customers.

To address climate change, Senator Chris Van Hollen, along with Representatives Jerry Nadler and Judy Chu, introduced the Polluters Pay Climate Fund Act. This legislation requires the largest polluters, particularly fossil fuel companies, to pay into a fund based on their prior emissions. The fund aims to generate $1 trillion to address climate challenges and ensure those who profited from pollution bear the costs of remediation.

Pollution prevention

The United States is responsible for producing millions of tons of pollution annually, and spends tens of billions of dollars per year controlling it. In recent years, legislators have begun to explore options and enact policies to address the cumulative impacts of pollution.

In 2023, at least 12 states introduced a new slate of cumulative impact bills to decrease and reverse the disproportionate impacts on BIPOC, low-income, and limited English proficiency communities. For instance, bills in Arizona (H.B.2244/S.B.1508) and Pennsylvania (H.B.652) would identify "burdened communities" based on median income, while Rhode Island (S.B.770/H.B.6916) would define "environmental justice focus areas" based on income, race, and language proficiency.

Additionally, the US EPA implements a national policy under the Pollution Prevention Act, which states that pollution should be prevented or reduced at the source whenever feasible. Recycling, energy recovery, treatment, and disposal are not considered pollution prevention methods. The Act also emphasizes that disposal or release into the environment should be a last resort, performed in an environmentally safe manner.

Furthermore, US Senator Chris Van Hollen, along with Representatives Jerry Nadler and Judy Chu, introduced the Polluters Pay Climate Fund Act. This legislation requires the largest polluters, typically fossil fuel companies, to pay into a fund proportionate to their prior emissions. The fund aims to address the harmful impacts of climate change, which disproportionately affect underserved and overburdened communities.

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