New Legislation and Advertising Effort Target Big Oil for LA Wildfires
In California, a fresh legislative proposal accompanied by a robust advertising initiative titled “Make Polluters Pay” signals an increasing momentum to make oil and gas companies financially responsible for their contributions to climate-related catastrophes, including the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles.
On Monday, State Senator Scott Wiener (D-11) unveiled a bill that would enable homeowners, businesses, and insurance providers to seek compensation for losses sustained due to climate-related disasters, targeting fossil fuel companies for damages.
Furthermore, the legislation would allow the FAIR Plan, a state-established insurance safety net for fire risks, to seek reimbursements to prevent potential insolvency.
According to a statement from Wiener’s office, “For decades, major fossil fuel corporations have deliberately deceived the public about the dangers of their products. As a result, Californians are now suffering from catastrophic wildfires, mudslides, rising sea levels, and soaring insurance premiums.”
Wiener emphasized the importance of managing these costs for the state’s recovery and future stability. “By holding the fossil fuel industry, which is largely responsible for the climate crisis, financially accountable, we aim to stabilize the insurance market and fully compensate the victims of these climate disasters,” he stated.
Earlier this month, wildfires swept through the Los Angeles area, destroying over 16,000 structures and scorching tens of thousands of acres, as reported by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. These fires are potentially the most expensive wildfire disaster in U.S. history, based on preliminary damage assessments.
The crisis has also put a strain on insurers and has led to a spike in rental prices across the region. According to a Washington Post report, rent increases in Los Angeles County have exceeded the legal limit of 10% following the wildfires.
Concurrently, Fossil Free Media initiated a six-figure ad campaign last Friday called Make Polluters Pay. This campaign supports the increasing calls for Big Oil to financially contribute to the costs of the Los Angeles wildfires and other climate calamities that burden taxpayers with billions of dollars annually.
The campaign, which features advertisements on Facebook, Instagram, and other digital platforms, shares stories of individuals like the Howes family, who lost their home in a California wildfire.
Fossil Free Media revealed that more than 4,000 individuals have endorsed a petition advocating for California legislators to enact a “climate superfund bill,” compelling polluters to contribute to a fund designed for disaster prevention and cleanup.
Although a similar bill, the Polluters Pay Climate Cost Recovery Act, was introduced but not passed in the previous legislative session in California, states like New York and Vermont have successfully enacted comparable laws.
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An economic reporter, Dax Everly breaks down financial trends and their impact on Americans’ daily lives.