The Northampton City Council unanimously approved a resolution supporting state legislation that would establish a climate‑change “super fund” funded by major oil and gas companies.

Sponsors asked the council to suspend its usual rules so the vote could occur that night; the suspension motion passed and the council then approved the resolution backing H1014/S588, an act that — as described in the resolution text read into the record — would require the largest fossil‑fuel producers to pay a fund totaling about $75 billion over 25 years, with a statutory preference that 40% of funds benefit environmental‑justice communities.

Smith College students and local climate organizers urged the council to act. Emma Cooper Smith, a Smith College student, told the council, “At a time when climate action is blocked at the federal level, city and state climate action is more important and urgent than ever.” Multiple student speakers and representatives of Climate Action Now Western Massachusetts described the resolution as part of a broader campaign to push state lawmakers to hold major polluters financially accountable for climate damages and to fund adaptation and resilience work.

Council sponsors said the proposed fund would give municipalities an additional resource for climate adaptation and resilience projects that local budgets cannot cover. Councilors noted the resolution is a statement of support: it asks state lawmakers to pass the bills H1014 and S588; it does not itself create state law. Mayor Sherra and several councilors thanked the student organizers and local advocacy groups for their efforts.

Votes at a glance
• Motion to suspend rules to allow a same‑night vote — mover: Councilor Perry; outcome: approved unanimously.
• Resolution in support of H1014/S588 (climate change super fund) — mover: Councilor Elkins; second: Councilor Perry — outcome: approved unanimously.

Next steps: The approved resolution will be forwarded to state officials and the city’s legislative delegation as a municipal endorsement of the bills cited in the resolution.