Danger Season Is Here—Tell Congress: No Immunity for Big Oil
In North America and the US Caribbean, we are in the middle of "Danger Season" -- the period between May and October when extreme heat, relentless drought, intense wildfires, flooding, and severe storms collide. As UCS's Dr. Rachel Cleetus and climate scientists have warned, the perilous climate future we feared is no longer a distant threat; it is here right now, with more and more extreme weather events occurring.
The human toll and economic costs of Danger Season are mounting. Communities are reeling from one extreme event, only to be struck by another. Just this summer, we have seen repeated severe heat domes and prolonged drought, which also contribute to catastrophic wildfires with hazardous smoke carried hundreds of miles away. Local governments, businesses, families, and taxpayers are bearing a steep cost for disaster recovery. Communities with fewer resources and families with lower incomes often bear the brunt of Danger Season and struggle to cope and recover from disasters.
Danger Season Is Here—Tell Congress: No Immunity for Big Oil
The climate change-driven Danger Season is a crisis fueled by major oil and gas corporations. For decades, fossil fuel companies knew their products would worsen climate change and cause harm to people and the planet. Yet, they have spent, and continue to spend, millions of dollars funding disinformation campaigns to downplay the risks, lie about the science, lobby policymakers to obstruct climate action, and mislead the public. By doubling down on the extraction and production of fossil fuels, they have directly contributed to the rising damages from climate-fueled extreme weather. Even as the planet burns, fossil fuel companies are reaping record-breaking profits and shifting the costs of climate change onto the public.
As cities, states, and individuals turn to the courts to hold major polluters accountable, Big Oil is lobbying Congress for sweeping legal immunity. A bill recently introduced by the industry's allies in Congress would effectively prevent the public from holding fossil fuel corporations accountable for deadly and costly climate harms.
We cannot allow Congress to give Big Oil a free pass for exacerbating Danger Season while leaving communities to pay the price. We owe it to people reeling from climate-fueled disasters today, and to the generations to come that will live in the shadow of our choices, to do what it takes to chart a different, safer path ahead.
Take Action: Demand Accountability, Reject Big Oil Immunity
The human toll and economic costs of Danger Season are mounting. Communities are reeling from one extreme event, only to be struck by another. Just this summer, we have seen repeated severe heat domes and prolonged drought, which also contribute to catastrophic wildfires with hazardous smoke carried hundreds of miles away. Local governments, businesses, families, and taxpayers are bearing a steep cost for disaster recovery. Communities with fewer resources and families with lower incomes often bear the brunt of Danger Season and struggle to cope and recover from disasters.
Danger Season Is Here—Tell Congress: No Immunity for Big Oil
The climate change-driven Danger Season is a crisis fueled by major oil and gas corporations. For decades, fossil fuel companies knew their products would worsen climate change and cause harm to people and the planet. Yet, they have spent, and continue to spend, millions of dollars funding disinformation campaigns to downplay the risks, lie about the science, lobby policymakers to obstruct climate action, and mislead the public. By doubling down on the extraction and production of fossil fuels, they have directly contributed to the rising damages from climate-fueled extreme weather. Even as the planet burns, fossil fuel companies are reaping record-breaking profits and shifting the costs of climate change onto the public.
As cities, states, and individuals turn to the courts to hold major polluters accountable, Big Oil is lobbying Congress for sweeping legal immunity. A bill recently introduced by the industry's allies in Congress would effectively prevent the public from holding fossil fuel corporations accountable for deadly and costly climate harms.
We cannot allow Congress to give Big Oil a free pass for exacerbating Danger Season while leaving communities to pay the price. We owe it to people reeling from climate-fueled disasters today, and to the generations to come that will live in the shadow of our choices, to do what it takes to chart a different, safer path ahead.
Take Action: Demand Accountability, Reject Big Oil Immunity
I am writing to urge you to oppose any legislation that would grant legal and financial immunity to fossil fuel corporations. This is especially egregious while we are in the midst of 'Danger Season' in the United States, a time between May and October when climate impacts like extreme heat, drought, and wildfires peak and collide, hitting vulnerable communities hard.
Not only have emissions from the products of major oil and gas companies been a major driver of climate change, but these companies have also actively concealed internal scientific data, misled the public, and blocked clean energy solutions, all while raking in massive profits. Now that states and local communities are seeking justice through the courts to hold these companies accountable for their damage and deception, fossil fuel lobbyists are asking Congress to pass legislation providing a federal liability shield for fossil fuel companies.
Please oppose all congressional efforts to shield the fossil fuel industry from facing legal and legislative consequences for its role in the climate crisis. I urge you to OPPOSE the so-called "Stop Climate Shakedowns Act of 2026," recently introduced by Representative Harriet Hageman and Senator Ted Cruz. Additionally, please stay alert for any efforts to introduce immunity for the fossil fuel industry into must-pass bills, and ensure that such provisions do not move forward.
Granting fossil fuel companies immunity for past, present, or future climate harms would undermine our legal system, deny justice for communities, and force everyday people to bear the full cost of corporate polluters' misdeeds.
Please stand with science, public health, and your constituents, not Big Oil executives. Oppose any legislation that would grant legal and financial immunity to fossil fuel corporations.
Ký thỉnh nguyện thưKý thỉnh nguyện thưNot only have emissions from the products of major oil and gas companies been a major driver of climate change, but these companies have also actively concealed internal scientific data, misled the public, and blocked clean energy solutions, all while raking in massive profits. Now that states and local communities are seeking justice through the courts to hold these companies accountable for their damage and deception, fossil fuel lobbyists are asking Congress to pass legislation providing a federal liability shield for fossil fuel companies.
Please oppose all congressional efforts to shield the fossil fuel industry from facing legal and legislative consequences for its role in the climate crisis. I urge you to OPPOSE the so-called "Stop Climate Shakedowns Act of 2026," recently introduced by Representative Harriet Hageman and Senator Ted Cruz. Additionally, please stay alert for any efforts to introduce immunity for the fossil fuel industry into must-pass bills, and ensure that such provisions do not move forward.
Granting fossil fuel companies immunity for past, present, or future climate harms would undermine our legal system, deny justice for communities, and force everyday people to bear the full cost of corporate polluters' misdeeds.
Please stand with science, public health, and your constituents, not Big Oil executives. Oppose any legislation that would grant legal and financial immunity to fossil fuel corporations.
[First Name] [Last Name]
[Street]
[City] [State] [Zip]
See more petitions:
You have JavaScript disabled. Without it, our site might not function properly.
Sign up today to receive recurring text messages from the Union of Concerned Scientists about our fight for a safer and healthier world. Message and data rates my apply. No purchase necessary. Reply STOP to opt out.
By signing, you accept Care2's Terms of Service.
You can unsub at any time here.
Having problems signing this? Let us know.