David Witherill’s Sept. 24 letter about the need for the fossil fuel industry to cover the cost of the damage they are causing us and our planet is right on. He points out that climate-related American disasters cost at least $165 billion in 2022. He urges that a carbon fee be placed on coal, gas and oil.

Legislative action such as he advocates is the best way forward. In America, however, there is a parallel path we can follow as we await legislative action. This is the justice system.

On Sept. 15, the state of California filed a lawsuit against five of the largest fossil fuel companies as well as against the American Petroleum Institute. In the words of Gov. Gavin Newsom: “For more than 50 years, Big Oil has been lying to us – covering up the fact that they’ve long known how dangerous the fossil fuels they produce are for the planet. California taxpayers shouldn’t have to foot the bill for billions of dollars in damages – wildfires wiping out entire communities, toxic smoke clogging our air, deadly heat waves, record-breaking drought parching our wells … California is taking action to hold big polluters accountable … .”

There have been other environmental lawsuits filed in America, but nothing approaching this in size. This should have been on the front page of the Press Herald.

There are successful precedents for this lawsuit, including lawsuits against the tobacco industry, the lead paint industry and the Sackler family for causing the opioid crisis. The media should be covering this closely, and other states should follow California’s lead.

Nancy Hasenfus
Brunswick

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