What’s the Deal with the Green New Deal?

Author: Eliana Liporace.

Amidst a worldwide COVID outbreak, fiery political divisiveness, and an economic crisis, listening to the daily news can feel like a crushing wave of impending doom. Recently, word of a climate change plan introduced by progressive House Representatives has been afloat, sparking the question, what’s the deal with the Green New Deal?

Originally coined by Pulitzer Prize-winner Thomas Friedman in 2007, the term “Green New Deal” was used to emphasize the tough future of our country following the hottest year on record. Friedman wished to draw attention to the less-than-simple steps it would take to resolve the looming climate change disaster.

In a New York Times column, he wrote that the transition away from fossil fuels would require higher national energy standards, an increase in crude oil prices, and a sustainable energy revolution. “If you have put a windmill in your yard or some solar panels on your roof, bless your heart. But we will only green the world when we change the very nature of the electricity grid- moving it away from dirty coal or oil to clean coal and renewables,” he wrote.

Since then, the Green New Deal has become a congressional resolution mapping out a step-by-step process in tackling this nation’s efforts against climate change.

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Senator Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts first introduced this proposal on February 7, 2019. It called on the federal government to take action, curbing greenhouse gas emissions and growing fossil fuel usage across the country. Not only that, but it also guaranteed major additions to the job market in clean energy industries.

Additionally, as a nonbinding resolution, this 14-page proposal would not be lawfully enforced even with Congressional approval.

“The Green New Deal is a revolutionary step in the right direction,” began one Bergen County Academies sophomore. “Climate change cannot be pushed aside any longer. It’s gotten to a dangerous point where wildfires have become a frequent of the nation and snow is no longer expected from the winter season.”

Another student stated, “Not only is this proposal tackling greenhouse gas emissions, it’s also creating new jobs and is an opportunity for America to repair, upgrade, and expand its transportation and infrastructure to be more efficient and modern with today’s day-and-age.”

The proposition goes on to highlight the United States’ focal role in reducing emissions, asserting that its technologically advanced standing and historically large carbon emissions have disproportionately affected the rest of the world. In other words, the U.S.’s petrochemical “footprint” is beginning to look as large as the Grand Canyon.

However, downsides that must be considered are the unintended consequences that would result from the Green New Deal. One sophomore said, “Just because natural gas production would be limited in the United States doesn’t mean it will stop global warming. The rest of the world has to be accounted for as well. The Green New Deal only addresses national consumption of natural resources while allowing global usage to shift to less environmentally conscious areas.”

The main goal of this ambitious strategy is to quickly and efficiently pursue climate change while addressing societal disparities including ever-present racial injustice and economic inequalities.

With rising temperatures, come warnings of increasingly intense weather patterns including wildfires, droughts, and heat waves. If this pattern continues, research shows that the United States economy could take major hits, losing billions by the end of the century. As of 2019, carbon emissions rose 3.4 percent the year before in the U.S. and 2.7 percent globally.

Green New Deal supporters believe swift action needs to be taken, sooner rather than later. An increasingly emphasized demand to tackle poverty, racial discrimination, and income discrepancies have been added to the long list of changes that must be made.

Historically, oppressed groups- people of color, the economically underprivileged, indigenous peoples, and immigrants- are at a significant disadvantage and are much more likely to be affected by climate change. The progressive nature of this proposal reflects the people's wishes as it calls for universal healthcare, job guarantees, worker’s compensation, and more.

Unfortunately, in a study done by the conservative group Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, among 11 states analyzed, it was found that such restructuring of the economy could cost the average household more than $75,000 in the first year of implementation. Each year afterwards was observed to cost more than $40,000.

Supporters of the progressive proposition argued that the positives outweigh the negatives. “The use of fossil fuels has become so ingrained in our society it would be a miracle if turning this around didn’t require billions of dollars. In the end, it has to be done to save future generations from a plight we started and continue to directly or indirectly, support,” commented one BCA student.

For one thing, the Green New Deal would uplift small businesses. It would require all corporate subsidies to become transparent and public. This would limit the number of subsidies disguised as tax breaks. Furthermore, it would support green businesses who transition away from dirty energy by supplying them with low-interest grants and loans and thousands of jobs in sustainable energy. Lastly, it would empower local media companies by supporting them on the federal level. This, in turn, would allow small business owners to make their community efforts newsworthy, allowing their impact to be seen on the national level.

Through a multi-faceted approach, the Green New Deal plans to bring U.S. greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero while ambitiously meeting 100 percent of energy demands through renewable, zero-emission energy sources by 2030.

While a topic of much debate given the recent political climate, the Green New Deal is a forward-thinking plan that would essentially aim to overhaul U.S. energy sources from 80 percent derived from petrochemicals to a much more sustainable alternative.

In order to tackle the climate crisis at a speed effective for both justice and science, a progressive, fast-paced resolution that would benefit the wide majority must be considered. Although expensive with a price tag of 93 trillion dollars, federal government spending to combat unpredictable climate change detriments will only exponentially increase with each year we wait. Action must be taken now, before it’s too late.

We need to take a stand, and we need to take it now. Global temperatures are rising, animals are dying, and extreme, unnatural weather patterns are wreaking havoc around the world. Stand up. Without you there will be no future. Write articles, reach out to local legislators, join activist clubs, use your voice for good. A better tomorrow starts with difficult decisions that should no longer be pushed down the road.
I urge you to take five minutes out of your day to implore your local congressperson and senators to cosponsor this bill and encourage hearings to move forward.

This is one of many links that quickly allows you to notify your representatives and push for change:
https://www.policylink.org/our-work/community/infrastructure/GND
As Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Sources:
https://www.investopedia.com/the-green-new-deal-explained-4588463
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/21/climate/green-new-deal-questions-answers.html
https://www.sierraclub.org/trade/what-green-new-deal
https://www.npr.org/2019/02/07/691997301/rep-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-releases-green-new-deal-outline
https://www.heritage.org/environment/commentary/its-not-just-about-cost-the-green-new-deal-bad-environmental-policy-too
https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/2020/02/26/conservatives-say-green-new-deal-would-ruin-u-s-economy/4882579002/
https://www.inc.com/alyssa-satara/3-ways-green-new-deal-could-help-small-businesses-us-economy.html