APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
___________________________
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. ______________ C.M.S.
INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMEMBERS ZAC UNGER AND CARROLL FIFE
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY BILL (“AB”) 1243 (ADDIS) AND SENATE BILL (“SB”) 684 (MENJIVAR), TOGETHER
REFERRED TO AS THE POLLUTERS PAY CLIMATE SUPERFUND ACT
OF 2025
WHEREAS, climate change, resulting primarily from the combustion of fossil fuels, is an immediate, grave threat to the people, communities, biodiversity, environment, and economy of the State of California; and
WHEREAS, California communities are under siege by escalating fires, floods, droughts, and other disasters. From 1980–2024, 46 extreme weather and climate disaster events 1 impacted California, with losses exceeding $1 billion each; and
WHEREAS, Oakland Passed our Equitable Climate Action Plan (“ECAP”) in 2020, which prioritizes frontline communities bearing the brunt of the impacts from pollution and climate change; and
WHEREAS, the Superfund Act will direct CalEPA to complete a first -of-its-kind comprehensive study of the true cost of climate damage to ensure polluters pay their fair share.
The Polluters Pay Climate Sup erfund Act of 2025 (the “Act”) will hold the largest polluters accountable for the costs to California from climate damage caused by their products with compensatory fee amounts proportional to companies’ self -reported past emissions from 1990 - 2024; and
WHEREAS, the Act will make the multinational fossil fuel companies that are responsible for and profit from the climate emergency pay for their damages; and
WHEREAS, the policy advances California’s commitment to equity and environmental justice. At least 40% of the funds from the Polluters Pay Climate Fund (the “Fund”) will go to disadvantaged communities to remedy past climate damages and build a more resilient and equitable California. The Fund will support urgently needed projects such as implementing wildfire prevention measures like home hardening, upgrading stormwater management systems to prevent flooding, and installing solar panels and energy storage systems to reduce energy costs and increase resilience during power outages. Additionally, this Fund could help develop urban
1 https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/billions/
2 green spaces to mitigate heat islands and improve air quality. Importantly, it could fund programs to support first responders and additional workers who provide essential services during climate disasters; and
THEREFORE, BE IT:
RESOLVED: That the City of Oakland endorses the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act Legislative Package ( AB 1243 (Addis) and SB 684 (Menjivar)), and encourages State representatives to pass it and the Governor to sign it into law; and be it
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council directs the City Administrator or his designee to immediately distribute this Resolution, upon its adoption , to Governor Newsom, the legislation’s authors Assemblymember Dawn Addis and Senator Caroline Menjivar, as well as our local representatives , Assemblymember Wicks, Assemblymember Bonta, and Senator Arreguín.
IN COUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,
PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES - BROWN, FIFE, GALLO, HOUSTON, RAMACHANDRAN, UNGER, WANG, AND
PRESIDENT JENKINS
NOES –
ABSENT –
ABSTENTION –
ATTEST:
ASHA REED
City Clerk and Clerk of the Council of the
City of Oakland, California
BPM