New York’s plan to charge fossil-fuel producers $75B for climate change damages is struck down
New York’s attempt to make fossil fuel-producing industries pay into a $75 billion fund to repair the damage wrought by climate change was struck down by a federal judge, who said the sweeping law reaches beyond a state’s responsibility and into an area of federal interest. The…
A federal judge has dismissed New York's $75 billion plan to hold fossil fuel producers accountable for climate change damages, ruling that the law goes beyond the state's authority into federal jurisdiction. The 2024 law, signed by Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul, faced legal challenges from fossil fuel industry representatives, business groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Republican attorneys general, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
U.S. District Judge Brenda Sannes stated that the state's climate law encroached on the domain governed by federal law for over a century and sought damages for worldwide cumulative impacts, which conflicts with the need for a unified national policy and is not authorized by the Clean Air Act. The judge also noted that collecting damages from foreign producers is forbidden by foreign affairs doctrine, making it unconstitutional.
While climate change advocates plan to appeal the decision, Hochul's administration will assess the ruling to determine its subsequent actions.
Written by urgent.news from Associated Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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