Nelson group urges city council to join proposed climate litigation class action lawsuit – Nelson News

Photo: Screenshot city agenda

Sue Big Oil hopes to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for the harmful effects of its activities.

The People vs. Big Oil is taking a stand.

Sue Big Oil – West Kootenay (SBO) has asked the City of Nelson to join the class action lawsuit aimed at holding fossil fuel companies accountable for the impacts of climate change.

The initiative argues that the fossil fuel industry has known about the harmful effects of its activities for decades, yet continues to make profits while contributing to climate change.

“Municipalities are facing increasing costs associated with climate adaptation and recovery from extreme weather events, and this lawsuit seeks to recover some of those costs from the industry,” SBO spokesman Greg Amos said when he recently presented the idea to the City Council .

Along with Ron Robinson, Amos explained the relationship between fossil fuel companies and the climate impacts and the class action lawsuit.

“Nelson residents are already feeling the impacts of climate change on the health and safety of our community, with heat domes and weeks of smoke-filled skies already causing harm and damage,” he said. “We know there are increasing costs associated with protecting us from these impacts and cleaning up after extreme weather events.”

Fossil fuel emissions cause climate change and the oil industry has known about these harmful effects for more than 50 years, Robinson added, but continues to make huge profits at the expense of health, safety and the future.

“They are not taking responsibility for this damage, and like the tobacco industry before them, we must hold big oil accountable,” he said.

Several municipalities in British Columbia – including Burnaby, Squamish, Gibsons and Sechelt – have already signed onto this lawsuit. Amos explained that the legal action is intended to recoup its fair share of climate-related costs and “encourage the fossil fuel industry to take responsibility for its contribution to climate change and climate-related damage, including infrastructure deterioration, extreme weather events and increased health and safety concerns.”

Sue Big Oil asked council to join the proposed class action lawsuit against select fossil fuel companies – subject to the participation of other BC municipalities and raise a combined minimum of $500,000 – and to raise the equivalent of $500,000 for this purpose Set aside $1 per resident.

Any money awarded to the City as a result of any settlement or injunction resulting from this lawsuit was requested to be used to mitigate any current or future harm caused to the City of Nelson as a result of climate change.

The matter was referred to a future city budget meeting because the monetary question will have to be addressed in a financial discussion arena.

Climate effects

In his presentation to council, Amos said the Insurance Bureau of Canada estimates municipalities would have to pay $5 billion a year to cover these damages.

Climate impacts are not always as obvious as wildfires, from road surface softening and loss of structural integrity due to ground instability, washouts, structural damage from floods and storms, increased water demand, protection from poor air quality and extreme heat. The adjustment needed to keep West Kootenay safe will take a long time.

“We should not have to pay for the damage caused by the fossil fuel industry: not with our health, our children’s futures or our tax dollars,” Amos said.

He added that the legal system in Canada and around the world is increasingly being used to protect communities from the irresponsible behavior of big corporations.

Province-wide call to action

The resolution proposed by Sue Big Oil:

THAT every municipality and regional district in BC:

Act urgently to tackle climate change and protect us from future heat waves, floods, forest fires and other climate impacts;

Join other local governments in filing a class action lawsuit to recoup our fair share of our climate costs;

Allocate at least $1 per person to a community fund to sue Big Oil;

Build just and sustainable communities that put people and the planet before corporate profits; And

Work together with the indigenous peoples.

Source: Sue Big Oil – West Kootenay