What is The Green New Deal

The Green New Deal

courtesy: google

Why the Green New Deal?

Climate Change and global warming are two of the most discussed topics around the world. There are conspiracies around these issues; there are many groups who tell very different stories when it comes to climate change. But, scientifically proved facts cannot be denied. Scientists some years back were of the view that 1.5 degrees Celsius rise in the earth atmospheric temperature is a threshold, which should not be crossed for us to live in a safe environment; and some kept the allowance even up to 2 degrees Celsius. But now the situation has changed and scientists after further studies, are suggesting that even half a degree rise can have very adverse effects; 2 degrees rise in earth’s atmospheric temperature will be equivalent to a catastrophe, which will very likely cause mass migrations, deadly heat stress; it will cost millions of lives and trillions of dollars. These facts were too shocking to be ignored, that is why climate activists in the United States stood up in response. They devised a well thought plan to do something about controlling the impacts of global warming; then they recruited one congress woman, Alexandria Cortez, and one senator Ed Markey to turn their plan into a congressional resolution. It was named “The Green New Deal”.

What does the Green New Deal say?

The Green New Deal is a proposed package of United States legislation that aims to address climate change and economic inequality. The name refers to the New Deal, a set of social and economic reforms and public work projects undertaken by President Franklin Roosevelt, in response to the Great Depression. The Green New Deal combines Roosevelt's economic approach with modern ideas such as renewable energy and resource efficiency. It is a fourteen pages legislative document that basically has two main parts:

Part one

This part of the document is about what America will have to do, in order to solve the problem of global warming. It says, the US needs to stop burning fossil fuels as much as is technologically possible. It includes making revolutionary changes to the industry that is responsible for the most carbon emissions and make it environment friendly. It also suggests the use of electric cars, naturally grown food, solar energy for domestic purposes and much more. It also talks about how the country’s transition towards the greener energy will produce new jobs and a new economy. But the thing, that its supporters are quite blunt about, is that it will need to be implemented without delay, and that will have some serious implications for the existing order of life in the country. A lot of people will lose their jobs, healthcare and even their homes. Most of the industry will be gone too, and it will be a catastrophe in itself. How can a country let that happen to its own people, without any backup plan? Here comes the second part, which attempts to answer how the above-mentioned damage can be minimized?

 Part two

According to latest reports, millions of Americans are on the verge of poverty, and a mercilessly abrupt transition like this, will push them below the poverty line. The planners of this deal, in this part, have made a set of promises on how the people will be protected against the effects of this transition. It suggests that ordinary Americans must be given loin’s share in the green industry, that is to be made after transition. They say, that this will also give an opportunity to the government, to mainstream those communities who feel that they have been wronged or otherwise marginalized by the system in one way or another.

Criticism and support

This resolution was defeated 57-0 in a senate vote, which the Democrats called a “stunt” by the Republicans. The Republicans criticized it as being both unpopular and impractical. President Donald Trump has already called climate change a hoax. But this was not only criticized by the right-wing movements and parties, a large number of liberals and even democrats criticized it as being not feasible, as so many people would lose their jobs, that it would be almost impossible for any government to control the situation. But most of the liberals support it, and they are of the view that it is a step which we will have to take sooner than later.

Conclusion

Though, this resolution failed to become a legislation; nevertheless, it started a worldwide debate on climate change. Most of the developed world is thinking about this issue more than ever before now. The supporters of the deal are now waiting for the Democrats to win the 2020 Presidential race, so that the Green New Deal can become a reality. 

courtesy: Syed Muhammad Saqib

Read Next:  History of US-Iran conflict