The Donald Trump – Elon Musk administration has been unconstitutionally withdrawing funding for climate initiatives at the state and local level, and Republicans in Congress want to cut such funding in the budget. While the fight to block these cuts proceeds, here’s something that MA can do now: make sure the major polluters who caused the climate crisis start paying up to fund the solutions.
The very companies who lied to the public for decades about climate change are benefiting while all of us, especially the most vulnerable, bear the cost.
The Make Polluters Pay bill (H.1014 / S.588) would require these major polluters to pay a one-time fee based on their historic emissions to fund climate-resilient infrastructure upgrades.
That means more money for restoring coastal wetlands; upgrading roads, bridges, subways, and transit systems; preparing for extreme weather; energy efficiency upgrades and retrofits; supporting the creation of self-sufficient clean energy microgrids; and addressing urban heat island effects through green spaces and urban forestry.
New York and Vermont have already passed such a bill. Let’s make MA next.
The Make Polluters Pay campaign is going to have a campaign launch this Sunday. Join 350 Mass, Mass Youth Climate Coalition, and Mass Power Forward along with lead sponsors Senator Jamie Eldridge, Representative Steve Owens, and Representative Jack Lewis to kickoff the 2025-2026 Make Polluters Pay Campaign! RSVP here.
