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‘Companies and their executives have endangered generations of Americans’
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‘Companies and their executives have endangered generations of Americans’

A memo on the effects of dirty fuel consumption outlines how New York prosecutors could charge Big Oil with reckless endangerment for its role in the climate crisis.

What is happening?

Public Citizen and Fair and Just Prosecution published the prosecution’s memo on October 17, and it presents a more than 50-page case. the guardian reported. Dozens of companies and their executives are responsible for much of the planet-warming pollution that humans have released into the atmosphere, and they have waged a disinformation campaign about it.

The industry has known it could cause enormous problems for Americans for more than half a century, but has soldiered on while reaping huge profits. In 1959 and 1982, Big Oil leaders realized that New York and much of the East Coast could be flooded as a result of an increase in anthropogenic carbon dioxide, which would melt the polar ice caps, the newspaper stated.

“It is clear that the actions of Big Oil, major fossil fuel companies, and their executives have endangered generations of Americans,” state Sen. Kristen Gonzalez said in a statement. “Big Oil must be held accountable for their actions and justice must be achieved for those who have suffered the devastating impacts of climate-related disasters.”

The memo says the conduct was “criminal” and “not just amoral.”

Why is this important?

The rise in global temperatures is the result of toxic gases that wrap around the Earth like a blanket and trap heat. Carbon dioxide, methaneand other pollutants that cause global warming are produced by the burning of coal, gas and oiland this exacerbates natural disasters as hurricanes and heat waves.

In 2012 and 2021, hurricanes Sandy and Ida devastated the Empire State. There were also heat waves in 2023 that killed hundreds of people in Arizona, causing a similar citizen public memorandum that argued that prosecutors there could bring manslaughter or second-degree murder charges against Big Oil.

“Reckless endangerment statutes criminalize reckless conduct that creates a risk of injuring or killing someone,” senior political advisor Aaron Regunberg told The Guardian. “Therefore, proving this crime does not require the same showing of causation as crimes such as homicide or assault, where prosecutors need to prove that a defendant’s conduct actually caused injury or death to a specific victim.”

What is being done about the pollution from big oil companies?

Prosecution of oil and gas companies is gaining ground as a way to control the industry and help pave the way to a cleaner, safer future. Likely American voters support such action in polls, according to The Guardian, and the cause is a way for citizens take on giant corporations.

Are you worried about air pollution in and around your home?

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Click on your choice to see the results and say what you think

Other ways to create change in this area focus on divesting from dirty energy sources. Can switch to an electric vehicle of a vehicle with an internal combustion engine, reduce your plastic consumptioneither get an induction stove.

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tipsand don’t get lost this great list of simple ways to help yourself and at the same time help the planet.


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