SACRAMENTO, CA — Following yesterday’s state action allowing insurers to bill all California home and rental property insurance policyholders to help the FAIR Plan – the state’s insurer of last resort – pay recovery costs for the Los Angeles wildfires, California Environmental Voters (EnviroVoters) joined state lawmakers in urging action on SB 222 so Californians affected by climate disasters can sue fossil fuel companies for damages and insurers could do the same to recover costs.
MARY CREASMAN, CEO OF CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL VOTERS
“The announcement from the FAIR Plan yesterday is yet again proof the climate crisis is driving an affordability crisis. Dropping a $1 billion dollar bill on working families and insurance companies is unacceptable. Unnatural disasters like the catastrophic fires in LA are preventable. Big Oil is fueling this climate crisis, and they are the only ones not paying their fair share of the cost. The Affordable Insurance and Climate Recovery Act is how our state can preserve accessible and affordable insurance in California. State leaders need to pass this essential legislation as soon as possible.”
SENATOR SCOTT WIENER (D-SAN FRANCISCO), AUTHOR OF SB 222
“Californians across the state are already struggling under our crushing affordability crisis. Making ratepayers pay the full cost of climate-driven disasters will only make California a more difficult place to live. By shifting costs like these off the backs of consumers and making the fossil fuel companies responsible for these disasters pay their fair share, we can make California a more affordable and livable place for everyone.”
SENATOR SASHA RENÉE PÉREZ (D-PASADENA), CO-AUTHOR OF SB 222
“We saw this coming. The LA County wildfires overwhelmed the FAIR Plan and now all California policy holders will have to pay the price. That won’t sit well with Californians who are already struggling to make ends meet. The Eaton Fire destroyed over 9,000 structures in my District, wiping out almost the entire town of Altadena, leaving thousands of my residents calling for justice and accountability. SB 222 would stop placing the financial responsibility on everyday Californians and instead hold accountable any responsible party including an oil and gas company.”
###
CONTACT:
Erika Guzman Cornejo
(310) 755-1615
erika@envirovoters.org
Share this press release
ABOUT CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL VOTERS
California Environmental Voters (EnviroVoters) believes the climate crisis is here and this moment requires transformative change. California has the policy solutions to stop climate change but lacks the political will to do it at the rate and scale that’s necessary. EnviroVoters exists to build the political power to solve the climate crisis, advance justice, and create a roadmap for global action. We organize voters, elect and train candidates, and hold lawmakers accountable for bold policy change. We won’t stop until we have resilient, healthy, thriving communities, and a democracy and economy that is just and sustainable for all. Join us at www.envirovoters.org and on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. See more press releases.
