TEACHING THE TALMUD, OF the 'polluter pays principle,' in the state senate

Polluters should pay – sounds pretty basic, right?!  This week, in Annapolis, I had the honor of teaching a little Talmud while testifying on this “polluter pays principle.”  And Marylanders, especially those in District 15 (which includes Adat Shalom), can now make their voice heard on this, too.

The RENEW Act -- a bill before the Maryland Senate committee chaired by Montgomery County (District 15)’s Sen. Brian Feldman, and co-chaired by neighboring Sen. Cheryl Kagan (who is already a cosponsor) -- would generate $900 million per year over the coming decade, to help Maryland adapt to the growing ravages of climate change, and limit or ‘mitigate’ its future emissions.
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This money would come from the 40 oil companies who have, to date, spewed the most greenhouse gases.  It’s a way of holding historic polluters accountable, while securing funding for the public protections and restorations now necessitated by their private profiteering.

Testimonies are short, just two minutes; I hope you’ll read mine, for the Jewish angle on all this (scroll down a bit, it's below the photo).  But to offer context, since this bold bill raises some key questions, we might start with a few answers to accompany them:

• Will oil companies just pass these higher costs, regressively, onto Maryland consumers?  No, because hundreds of other firms supply the same products, and thus set market prices.  The numbers here also represent just a tiny sliver of their profits; they can absorb it.
• Can a state really hold national and multinational corporations accountable?  Yes, per Attorney General Anthony Brown – to operate in Maryland, they must follow state law; if they refuse to pay, their in-state physical assets can be claimed.
• Is $900 million per year a lot?  No, actually:  numerous studies have shown that much more than that is needed, just to help the Bay State partially adapt to a warming world – through life-saving flood and heat protection; shoreline resilience; habitat protection; relocation of infrastructure due to rising sea level; and much more.
• Has this been vetted by those who know the law, the science, the financing, etc?  Yes, it follows legislation introduced in Congress by our own Senator Chris Van Hollen, following consultation with experts from a wide range of disciplines.
• What good is one mid-sized state’s actions?  A lot!  Even a single state passing such a bill sends a clear message, and weakens the stranglehold long imposed on our society by the oil industry.  And:  similar legislation has passed the NY Senate; is under early consideration in two other states; and will soon be introduced elsewhere as well.  

So, If you’re in another state:  work with your local enviro coalition to introduce your own RENEW Act! 

And if you’re in Maryland:  know that a majority of the committee’s 11 members are already on board as cosponsors; it’s just upon the chairperson, Sen. Feldman, to bring it up for a vote.  And we can strengthen his hand, offering surety for him to do so.  Let Chair Feldman know that there’s widespread and strong support for polluters paying, across District 15 -- constituents can sign up for a given day here, with support from our friends at Chesapeake Climate Action Network (using the easy tool at https://actionnetwork.org/forms/tell-your-md-legislators-pass-the-renew-act) -- and across Maryland (outside the district, call his office at (410) 841-3169) . 

Here's Jennifer Laszlo Mizrachi testifying first on our panel,
with me on deck (thanks to Sen. Cheryl Kagan for the pic!):

And here’s:
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Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb’s 2/20/24 testimony to the Maryland
Senate Committee on Education, Energy, the Environment and Finance,
on SB 958, “Responding to Emergency Needs From Extreme Weather
(RENEW) Act of 2024”

"Thank you. I’m Fred Scherlinder Dobb, rabbi with the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, and with Adat Shalom in Bethesda.  Our community, which draws members from across the region, is known as a green synagogue; it’s one of a blessedly growing number. 

Those in my congregation -- as in many of yours! -- care deeply about the planet, their progeny, and the poor. That is to say, they care about Creation, future generations, and minoritized and marginalized Marylanders: all uniquely threatened by climate change. Historic harms have already been baked in, largely by wanton fossil fuel use, even as the science became ever clearer. Worse, much worse, now lies ahead. 

The Talmud asks 'who is wise?', and gives two answers.  One, a great teaching about equality and humanity – 'whoever learns from everyone' (which describes what you’re doing in this hearing!).  And the other answer to ‘who is wise’:  'whoever foresees the consequences of their actions'. 

Large fossil fuel companies have foreseen our dire trendline for decades, but – putting profits measured in dollars, over prophets as in ethics – they obfuscated, resisted change, fought regulations.  They deepened their footprint, and our dependence on them; and brought us to where billions of dollars are needed just to partially adapt, much less mitigate (which must be our highest priorities). 

The 'polluter pays principle' is basic fairness – someone’s gonna pay, and ethically, it should be those most responsible.  This principle has precedent in American law; and, yes, in the Talmud: 'Whoever digs a pit, and leaves it, then someone’s ox falls in – the one who dug it is liable,' and must pay up.

The largest oil companies, who will be held liable under the RENEW Act, have dug a pit -- and we’ve all fallen in.  Now, to get us out, they must pay.  

We – YOU! – can now be prophetic, and do something big for today’s Marylanders, and tomorrow’s.  Beyond its feasibility and legality, please center the moral urgency, and spiritual clarity, of polluters paying – by advancing the RENEW Act.  Thank you."