Big Oil Wants Immunity From Climate Accountability.

We Say: No F****** Way

For over a year, the fossil fuel industry has lobbied the Trump administration for total immunity from any laws and lawsuits that seek to hold them accountable for their role in the climate crisis. Big Oil wants to strip communities of their right to hold this polluting industry accountable for knowingly fueling the climate crisis, and stick us with the cost to recover and rebuild when fossil-fueled climate disasters strike. 

On April 17th, Republicans in Congress introduced sweeping legislation in the House and Senate to do just that – give Big Oil immunity and effectively put the industry above the law. Called the “Stop Climate Shakedowns Act of 2026”, if passed, this bill would put all existing accountability lawsuits under water, do away with Climate “Superfund” laws, and block any similar future efforts. It’s designed after the shameful 2005 law that gave gun manufacturers broad protections from lawsuits over gun violence.

 If the fossil fuel industry wins immunity, communities will lose access to the courts, and climate-related costs will shift even further onto the people least able to absorb them. 

For decades, Big Oil companies and CEO’s have exploited both people and the planet for profit, keeping us hooked on planet warming fossil fuels. These companies have known for more than 50 years that their products would fuel the climate crisis and pose a “catastrophic” risk. But instead of sounding the alarm, they lied, spread denial, and waged a massive deception campaign to thwart climate action. Their actions have cost us precious time, and countless lives. 

Now, we are seeing  increasingly frequent, deadly, and costly floods, wildfires, heatwaves, and other extreme weather disasters. And we’re the ones on the hook to pay for repairs and rebuilding. Washington recently experienced catastrophic flooding that washed away homes and businesses, and severely damaged roads and infrastructure. These floods cost over $180 million, and prompted 100,000 evacuation orders. Communities, local governments, and the state are now saddled with the cost of rebuilding, while the state grapples with a budget shortfall and federal aid becomes increasingly unreliable. 

Such extreme weather events are becoming a much more common occurrence in Washington. And at greatest risk are working people who can’t afford to move out of flood zones, stay home from farmwork, install heat pumps, or otherwise recover and rebuild, and are most likely to be injured or die. 
The climate crisis is deeply intertwined with and exacerbates the affordability crisis too. Working families across our state are paying higher home insurance rates, energy prices, and food and healthcare costs.

Why should we keep footing the bill for a crisis caused by a handful of greedy fossil fuel corporations? We deserve to keep our money in our pockets. 

Meanwhile, fossil fuel industry executives are raking in $30 million in profits every hour– let that sink in – in wake of the war with Iran, while we get price gouged at the pump. 

None of this is fair. Fossil fuels start wars, they cause prices to go up, fuel extreme weather disasters, and wreak destruction and devastation across the world. The companies at the heart of the problem want a ‘get-out-of-jail-free-card’, as their CEO’s and shareholders continue to get obscenely rich while we pay with our lives and livelihoods.

Make no mistake, this is a power grab to make sure some of the richest corporations in the world never have to pay a dime towards the mess they made. 

Climate accountability is our democratic right and we must fight to defend it. 

That’s why, in January, we delivered over 4000 signatures to our Senators and Representatives calling on them to stand firm, and block any form of a liability shield for the fossil fuel industry. We then hosted action nights and sent dozens upon dozens of postcards and hand-written letters, and over 200 email letters.   

And in April, we submitted a letter signed by 32 Washington organizations (hundreds nationally) to Senator Cantwell, Senator Murray, and the rest of our Congressional representatives, urging them to reject any attempts to give Big Oil immunity. 

We need to keep the pressure up. Although it’s uncertain whether Republicans will garner the votes needed to pass Big Oil immunity legislation as is, this could be used to slip immunity language into must-pass legislation or the reconciliation process – which can pass with a simple majority. 

Here’s how you can take action right now to defend our right to hold corporations accountable when they knowingly cause harm: 

• Write to your representatives and share the link with five friends. We’ve drafted an email for you but encourage you to personalize it. Personal emails have a much higher chance of moving legislators. 
• Call your representative. These calls get logged and they influence how offices track priorities.
• Write a letter to the editor. 
• Share on social media.

Learn more about, and stay updated on the No Immunity for Big Oil campaign.

Washington’s lawsuits against Big Oil, and our Make Polluters Pay campaign, are grounded in values of justice, solidarity, and accountability. We must work together to block this dangerous overreach and stop Big Oil from getting immunity.

The Make Polluters Pay campaign will march this May Day, May 1st 12-4pm, in solidarity with immigrants, migrants, and workers, and demand: people and planet over Big Oil billionaires. Join us, and together let’s fight for our right to hold polluters accountable.