We, the undersigned residents and concerned citizens of New Jersey, urge you to publicly support and co-sponsor the NJ Climate Superfund Act (S3545 / A4696). The urgency of the climate crisis demands bold action, and this bill is a critical step toward holding those responsible for climate damage accountable while ensuring our communities can prepare for and respond to the worsening impacts of climate change.

What the NJ Climate Superfund Act Will Do:

The NJ Climate Superfund Act will require the largest fossil fuel corporations—those responsible for more than 1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions between 1995 and 2025—to contribute to a fund based on the proportional damage their emissions have caused to the State and residents during that period, as determined by the State Treasurer. These funds will be used to support climate adaptation efforts across New Jersey. Administered by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJ DEP), the money will be allocated through grants for climate adaptation projects such as:

- Flood protection infrastructure

- Electric grid and stormwater drainage upgrades

- Energy efficiency improvements

- Other climate adaptation initiatives to respond to, avoid, moderate, repair, or adapt to negative impacts caused by climate change

Why This Legislation is Critical:

Escalating Climate Disasters
Extreme weather disasters have become more frequent and devastating. The cost and number of U.S. billion-dollar disasters have increased every decade, straining local economies, infrastructure, and public safety systems. New Jersey has witnessed firsthand the catastrophic impacts of storms like Hurricane Sandy, flash floods, and extreme heat waves.

The Crisis Will Only Worsen
Without immediate and decisive action, the frequency and severity of climate disasters will continue to rise. Future emissions will dictate the extent of future suffering, and proactive measures now can help minimize further harm to our state’s residents and economy.

Fossil Fuel Companies Knew and Misled
Major fossil fuel corporations have long understood the dangers their products pose to the planet. Despite this knowledge, they have engaged in deliberate misinformation campaigns to sow doubt about climate science, delaying meaningful action and exacerbating the crisis.

Science Now Links Climate Change to Specific Disasters
Advances in climate attribution science have made it possible to determine how much of a particular weather event's intensity can be attributed to climate change. This means we can now trace the role of fossil fuel emissions in amplifying disasters and justifiably hold polluters accountable for the damages.

Responding to Climate Change is Costly—But Necessary
The costs of responding to, adapting to, and mitigating climate change are immense. Taxpayers should not bear the full financial burden of rebuilding after climate-fueled disasters. Instead, the corporations that profited from climate destruction should contribute their fair share to recovery and resilience efforts. According to Nobel Prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz, the Climate Superfund would not be a cost shift to consumers since oil prices are set globally, and the payments on the fixed historical period would be borne by the responsible entities as a fixed cost, and therefore, “it would not affect future production costs.”

The NJ Climate Superfund Act will ensure that the entities most responsible for climate destruction contribute to the necessary funds for climate adaptation, disaster relief, and mitigation strategies.

We call upon the New Jersey Legislature to take a stand for climate justice, fiscal responsibility, and the well-being of future generations by supporting and co-sponsoring this essential bill.