These US states want polluters to pay for the rising insurance costs of climate disasters

Proposals by California, Hawaii and New York lawmakers aim to hold fossil fuel industry accountable for soaring rates.

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Lawmakers in California, Hawaii and New York have introduced measures which would authorize their attorneys general to sue fossil fuel companies on behalf of residents whose insurance premiums have soared amid climate disasters.

“The cost of home insurance in California is an absolute crisis,” said state senator Scott Wiener, lead author of his state’s bill, speaking at a press conference announcing the measure on Thursday. “We know that the years ahead are going to be dramatically more dangerous, tragically, when it comes to climate disasters, and we can’t allow Californians, our residents, our small businesses, to be left holding the bag.”

The proposals aim to hold the fossil fuel industry, the top contributor to global warming, accountable for soaring insurance rates driven by climate-fueled extreme weather.

In California, after the deadly 2025 Los Angeles-area wildfires, which destroyed more than 18,000 homes and properties, residents faced massive insurance premium increases, as well as widespread non-renewals of insurance and thousands of delayed or denied claims.

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