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Advocates urge Bergen County to back Climate Superfund Act and pursue local resilience funding
Summary
Multiple speakers urged the county to adopt a resolution supporting the Climate Superfund Act in the state legislature, saying fossil fuel companies should bear costs of climate damages and urging county investment in flood and wildfire resilience.
Environmental and labor advocates urged the Bergen County Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday to endorse the Climate Superfund Act pending in the New Jersey Legislature, legislation that would create civil liability for certain climate‑related damages and direct money to mitigation efforts.
“New Jersey has experienced deaths and billions of dollars in losses from storms linked to climate change,” Paula Rogovin of Food & Water Watch North Jersey told the board, citing estimates for Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Ida. She and other speakers said the state should require large fossil‑fuel companies to pay for a portion of climate impacts rather than place those costs on taxpayers.
Pat DiRoma, speaking on congestion pricing and broader transportation policy, said Bergen County should invest in transit and ‘complete streets’ to reduce car trips and vulnerability to climate damage, pointing to early reductions in New York City traffic after congestion pricing took effect.
Speakers asked commissioners to adopt a county resolution supporting the state bill and to press state leaders to direct monies toward flood mitigation, public health and other local resilience measures. Commissioners did not vote on a resolution at the meeting; advocates said they would follow up with county staff about next steps.
