I was pleased to see that the Maine Legislature passed a bill to study how much the damage from greenhouse gas emissions has cost the state. We can’t stop there, though. We need to make sure big polluters don’t get a pass for the damage they’ve done to our climate.

Despite what fossil fuel executives claim, the industry has known how fossil fuels drive climate change for decades. Instead of changing course, fossil fuel companies continued their work. They also did everything possible to convince the public that climate science wasn’t settled, even though it is.

Now we’re seeing the damage caused by climate change due to their inaction and disinformation. This includes droughts like the one here in Maine, warming waters like in the Gulf of Maine and hotter summers. This is why Maine is one of the many states suing large fossil fuel companies for hiding the truth about the damage from the continued use of fossil fuels.

The fossil fuel industry knows they’re guilty, so they’re lobbying for legislation that would give them complete legal immunity from any liability.

Such immunity is completely unacceptable. I’m calling on Sens. King and Collins, and Reps. Pingree and Golden, to stand up against corporate greed and to prevent this blanket immunity. Here in Maine, we greatly value and depend on our clean air and water. We need to be able to go to court, if needed, to defend our right to a livable climate.

Erica Bartlett
Portland