Summary

Fossil fuel companies successfully lobbied to block California’s 2024 Polluters Pay Climate Cost Recovery Act, which aimed to make major polluters fund climate disaster prevention and recovery.

Chevron, Western States Petroleum Association, and others spent over $80M on lobbying, claiming the bill would raise energy costs and duplicate existing carbon taxes.

The Los Angeles wildfires, now California’s second deadliest, have reignited interest in the bill.

Advocates suggest revised legislation to avoid requiring two-thirds legislative approval.

Critics accuse big oil of evading accountability amid record profits.