Dozens of Atlantic City residents, community leaders and environmental advocates rallied for action Wednesday, in what they called a climate crisis.
“The fight for climate justice and equity is critical as we witness extreme weather events,” said Atlantic City Councilmember Kaleem Shabazz as the group gathered at the city's O'Donnell Memorial. “Under-resourced communities face the greatest impacts, and our goal must be to build a growing coalition of environmentally conscious people to fight for a cleaner, more just future.”
The rally highlighted Atlantic City’s extreme vulnerability to flooding and sea level rise, as well as the mounting financial toll of climate disasters on local families, businesses and taxpayers.
Participants called for swift passage of the New Jersey Climate Superfund Act — legislation that would require major fossil fuel corporations to pay for their role in driving the climate crisis and fund infrastructure upgrades to protect New Jersey communities.
“Atlantic City is ground zero for the climate crisis in New Jersey, and Hurricane Erin is the latest reminder of the human and economic costs we face,” said Kate Delany, Senior South Jersey Organizer at Food & Water Watch. “Families here live with the threat of flooding and storm damage year after year, while Big Oil walks away with record profits. The Climate Superfund Act offers a fair solution: make the polluters who caused this mess pay to protect our communities. Our state leaders must act — and Congressman Van Drew should reject any federal attempt to give fossil fuel corporations a free pass.”
The rally came just days after the winds of Hurricane Erin churned up dangerous surf, causing beach closures and costly flooding.
Councilman Kaleem Shabazz speaks at the rally.“The cost of climate change is increasingly hitting all of our communities — and taxpayers are being left to foot the bill after devastating storms like Hurricane Erin, which pummeled Atlantic City and other New Jersey shore communities last week with widespread flooding and beach erosion," said State Sen. John McKeon, D-27. "These storms are directly linked to climate change fueled by our state’s largest oil and gas polluters — and it’s time they pay their fair share for the increasing damage their products cause.
“We are not going to see more federal funding in the second Trump presidency to mitigate climate impacts — it’s time for New Jersey to hold our climate polluters accountable," he added.
Modeled after similar laws passed in New York and Vermont, the Climate Superfund Act has already cleared environmental committees in both chambers of the Legislature.
“New Jersey must pass the Climate Superfund Act to shore up its commitment to strengthening our vibrant communities for future generations,” said state educator Melissa Tomlinson.
“As kids we’re told, ‘You make a mess, you clean it up.’ The same goes for the fossil fuel industry,” said Amy Goldsmith, state director at Clean Water Action. “New Jersey ranks as one of the top three states in the nation most impacted by climate change. Big Oil and Gas knew what they were doing and did it anyway. It is time for them to pay for their wrongdoing.
"Passing the NJ Climate Superfund Act now will provide property and tax relief for climate mitigation for our residents, municipalities, and the state," she added.
The bill would create a dedicated state fund to support climate resiliency projects — from rebuilding after floods and storms to upgrading critical infrastructure — while ensuring taxpayers are no longer left to shoulder the costs of climate destruction.
“Marvin Gaye said it best in his song "What’s Going On"," said the Rev. Eric Dobson, executive director of United Black Agenda. "‘We’ve got mercury in the air, floods in our streets, and pollution rising while corporations keep cashing in.’
"He warned us this was coming," Dobson said. "The Climate Superfund Act is about fairness: if you made the mess, you help clean it up. Polluters pay, communities heal."
