(ALBANY, NEW YORK) - A Coalition of Environmental Activists, Faith and Labor Leaders and students are calling on New York State Governor Kathy Hochul to sign the Climate Change Superfund Act - a new Law that would hold polluters accountable for climate damage they caused.

The Coalition made its case during a press conference held on the state Capitol’s Million Dollar Staircase.

United University Professions (UUP) President Fred Kowal spoke at the event, along with representatives from more than dozen groups, including the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), the New York State Council of Churches, the Interfaith Climate Justice Community and the Niagara Falls Branch of the NAACP.

“Polluters must be held accountable for their actions,” Kowal said. “At this moment, the Governor can make a historic difference.  It’s not about the future anymore.  It’s about the present.  We can’t put it off any longer.  Sign the Bill.”

NYPIRG’s Executive Director Blair Horner said: “With the stroke of a pen, Governor Hochul can do something about shifting the cost from we, the taxpayers to the big Oil Companies that are responsible for the growing and worsening climate catastrophe that we’re living in.  Let’s hope Governor Hochul will make ‘Big Oil’ learn what we all learned as children: ‘You make the mess, you clean it up.’”

The press conference kicked off the Coalition’s three-day Sit-In, Teach-In, Sing-In And Youth Die-In event at the Capitol.

More than 100 activists turned out for the press conference and rally.

Some planned to take part in a non-violent sit-in at the Capitol after the press event, part of their plan to pressure Hochul into signing the Bill.

Some activists held signs that read “Pass The Climate Superfund,” “Make Big Oil Pay!” and “Our Future Is On The Line,” as they chanted “Sign The Bill!” between speakers.

The Bill would establish a Climate Change Adaptation Cost Recovery Program requiring companies that have “contributed significantly to the buildup of climate-warming greenhouse gases” to pay a share of infrastructure upgrades in affected communities to help them adapt to climate change, according to the Bill.

Large Fossil Fuel Companies doing business in New York would have to contribute a total of $3 billion each year or $75 billion over the next 25 years.

The payments are meant to have “a meaningful impact on the burden borne by New York State taxpayers for climate adaptation,” the Bill read.

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