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Illinois Groups Call on Congressional Leaders to Oppose Immunity for the Fossil Fuel Industry
Advocates Sound the Alarm that Big Oil is Seeking a Legal Shield that Would Kill Illinois Communities’ Climate Accountability Efforts
Contact: Pamela Tate, Climate Reality Project - Chicago-Metro Chapter, Pam@Pamelatate1.com and Laura Derks, Illinois Coordinator, No Immunity
ILLINOIS — As Big Oil lobbies Congress and the Trump administration for legal immunity from laws and lawsuits aiming to hold them accountable for their role in the climate crisis, over 40 Illinois organizations and state and county legislators are urging Congressional leaders to protect their right to hold polluters accountable.
In a letter delivered to Senator Richard Durbin and Senator Tammy Duckworth today, these organizations sounded the alarm over the fossil fuel industry’s growing efforts to secure a legal shield from Congress to block the dozens of laws and lawsuits they are facing nationwide over their climate deception and harm. Chicago is one of many communities taking ExxonMobil and other oil majors to court over their “tobacco-industry-style campaigns to deceive and mislead the public about the damaging nature of their fossil fuel products.” noted in the Chicago lawsuit.
Illinois's letter delivery is part of a multi-state effort to warn federal leaders of Big Oil’s escalating lobbying campaign to secure a legal shield from Congress and urge lawmakers to reject any attempts to put Big Oil above the law.
“The climate crisis is escalating every day and our communities across the country are bearing the brunt of the financial, environmental, and personal impacts,” the letter states. “As the costs worsen and extreme weather events become more commonplace, governments, businesses, community members, and others must retain access to legal and legislative tools to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for the damage they knowingly caused.”
“We’re in a climate emergency because the fossil fuel industry spent billions of dollars on campaigns lying about the reality of the climate harms of their products. Our taxpayers should not be saddled with climate costs that oil and gas companies caused. Giving Big Oil immunity from all laws and lawsuits would take away our communities’ chance at justice.” Pamela Tate, Climate Reality Project, Chicago Metro Area.
“No one should be shielded from responsibility when their actions damage human health—particularly when individuals have no ability to avoid that harm. The climate crisis is driving physical, mental, and financial health burdens across the U.S., and those responsible must be held accountable.” specified Dr Robert Needleman, Illinois Clinicians for Climate Action.
A copy of the letter is available here.
The 42 organizations and legislators that signed the letter are:
350 Chicago
Accelerate Climate Solutions
AFGE Local 704
Chicago Wilderness Alliance
Climate Reality Chicago Metro Chapter Faith in Place Action Fund
Go Green Wilmette
Illinois Clinicians for Climate Action Illinois Environmental Council Illinois People's Action
Interfaith Green Network, Oak Park/River Forest
It’s Our Future
Metro East Green
Oak Park Climate Action Network
Open Lands
Prairie State Conservation Coalition
Respiratory Health Association
Save Our Illinois Land
Seven Generations Ahead
The Electric Home Company
The People’s Lobby
Third Act Illinois
Windfree Solar
WindSolarUSA, Inc
Women For Green Spaces
Working Family Solidarity
Graciela Guzman, State Senator, 20th District
Lilian Jimenez, State Representative, 4th District
Kelly Cassidy, State Representative, 14th District
Leader Robyn Gabel, State Representative, 18th District
Theresa Mah, State Representative, 24th District
Will Guzzardi, State Representative, 39th District
Mary Beth Canty, State Representative, 54th District
Norma Hernandez, State Representative, 77th District
Dagmara Avelar, State Representative, 85th District
Carol Ammons, State Representative, 103rd District
Bridget Degnen, Cook County Commissioner
Maria Hadden, 49th Ward Alderman, Chairwoman of the Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy
Matthew Martin, 47th Ward Alderman
Derek Eder, Oak Park Village Trustee