COMPLETED ACTION: Take A Stand Against Climate Change, Support New Green Deal
As many of you are aware, on February 7th Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) introduced a joint resolution called the New Green Deal. The resolution allows members of Congress to make a strong statement in favor of implementing significant measures to cut carbon emissions across the economy while creating clean energy jobs that boost the economy and promote equality for marginalized communities who are most at risk from the increasing impacts of climate change.
Climate change is one of the most important issues facing the U.S. and the world, today. It stands to have major impacts on our economy, threatens access to clean air and water, increases the frequency of natural disasters, and exacerbates food insecurity and housing crises in major coastal cities to name a few. Climate change is a problem today and we need to address it now. The more we ignore and deny its effects, the larger and more significant the impacts will be for our children and our future generations.
The New Green Deal is an important first step for Congress to identify that climate change is a real and significant problem. Hopefully this resolution will be followed by meaningful bi-partisan legislation that will move us closer to addressing climate change before it is too late.
Background:
Unlike a bill, the New Green Deal is a nonbinding resolution, meaning that if it passes the House and the Senate it wouldn’t create any new programs. Instead, it would send a message to our members of Congress that climate change is a key priority and that legislation moving forward should address it as such and seek to meet the goals laid out within the resolution.
This resolution calls for the creation of a Green New Deal with the goals of
- achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions;
- establishing millions of high-wage jobs and ensuring economic security for all;
- investing in infrastructure and industry;
- securing clean air and water, climate and community resiliency, healthy food, access to nature, and a sustainable environment for all; and
- promoting justice and equality.
The resolution calls for accomplishment of these goals through a 10-year national mobilization effort. The resolution also enumerates the goals and projects of the mobilization effort, including
- building smart power grids (i.e., power grids that enable customers to reduce their power use during peak demand periods);
- upgrading all existing buildings and constructing new buildings to achieve maximum energy and water efficiency;
- removing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation and agricultural sectors;
- cleaning up existing hazardous waste and abandoned sites;
- ensuring businesspersons are free from unfair competition; and
- providing higher education, high-quality health care, and affordable, safe, and adequate housing to all.
