By Larry Behrens
“U.S. helps cut world’s first global carbon tax,” read the headline. And every American who values common sense should celebrate.
President Trump’s administration strongly opposed the United Nations’ attempt to impose a global carbon tax through the International Maritime Organization’s ridiculous net-zero framework. The message couldn’t be clearer: America’s energy policy is made in Washington – not dictated by unelected global bureaucrats.
But while the global carbon tax has been stopped abroad, the same idea is being smuggled in here at home – through the courts. Environmental activists and their allies in court are trying to do in the United States what the United Nations failed to do: impose a carbon tax on working families.
Recently, one of the lawyers involved in a climate lawsuit was caught telling the truth about his strategy. Here is the full quote in his own words:
“Tort liability is an indirect carbon tax. If you sue an oil company, an oil company is liable. The oil company then passes that liability on to the people who buy its products. In some ways, it’s the most efficient way. The people who buy those products will now pay for the costs caused by those products. … [This is] a somewhat complicated way to achieve the goals of a carbon tax.”
This isn’t spin – this is a confession.
“The oil company then passes that liability onto the people who buy its products… The people who buy those products will now pay the costs that those products incur.”
translation: We know working families will pay the price.
“Tort liability is an indirect CO2 tax…” [This is] a somewhat complicated way to achieve the goals of a carbon tax.”
translation: We know we can’t get this through Congress, so we’re going through the back door.
Americans already know that a carbon tax means higher prices — and they have rejected it every time. According to a survey, more than half of those surveyed say they are not willing to pay even a dollar more per month on their energy bill to protect the climate. This rejection increases to 75% when the proposed cost reaches $75 or more per month. The bottom line is that working families will not support higher energy costs as symbolic climate virtue signaling.
The Trump administration is clear that carbon taxes—whether global or domestic—hurt working Americans. Now the Supreme Court must decide whether these climate lawsuits will be allowed. More than 100 members of Congress, led by House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, have called on the court to reject them, warning that activists are trying to use the judiciary to achieve what Congress has repeatedly rejected.
If carbon tax advocates truly believe in their cause, they should make their case to Congress. But they won’t. Even the most left-wing members know that voting for a new carbon tax would be political suicide. Instead, they rely on friendly courts to do their dirty work. And they’re counting on the public not noticing until it’s too late.
When environmental lawyers tell you what they’re trying to do, believe them. They have admitted a small part out loud: What they are complaining about is a carbon tax by another name. The Supreme Court must see through this plan and shut it down before Americans are forced to pay the price.
Larry Behrens is an energy expert and communications director for Power The Future. He has appeared on Fox News, ZeroHedge and NewsMax and spoken out on behalf of America’s energy workers. You can follow him on X/Twitter @larrybehrens
This article was originally published by RealClearEnergy and made available via RealClearWire.
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