Together, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) unveiled joint resolutions on a Green New Deal. The highly-anticipated introduction made on Thursday is a 10-year plan to “mobilize every aspect of American society … to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and create economic prosperity for all,” according to the resolution.
Some of the ideas outlined in the Green New Deal include “unprecedented levels of prosperity and economic security” for Americans and “meeting 100 percent of the power demand in the United States through clean, renewable, and zero-emission energy sources.”
“Even the solutions that we have considered big and bold are nowhere near the scale of the actual problem that climate change presents to us, to our country, to the world,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
The resolution’s goal is to transition from nuclear energy and fossil fuel in its entirety. Since the United States has “historically been responsible for a disproportionate amount of greenhouse gas emissions,” it’s time for the nation to take “a leading role”to reduce emissions “through economic transformation,” EcoWatch reported.
The Green New Deal proposes the U.S. start by “mobilization of the U.S. economy and creating jobs through infrastructure and industrial projects, such as zero-emission vehicle infrastructure and manufacturing; installing smart grids; updating or creating buildings that are energy efficient; expanding clean energy jobs (like solar, wind turbine, battery and storage manufacturing); cleaning existing hazardous waste sites; and restoration of damaged and threatened ecosystems,” EcoWatch reported.
There is also a social justice component to the resolution to help protect all citizens especially those mostly affected by pollution and climate change.
“This is really about providing justice for communities and just transitions for communities,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “So really the heart of the Green New Deal is about social justice and it’s about allowing and fighting for things like fully-funded pensions for coal miners in West Virginia, fighting for clean water in Flint, and fighting for the ability of indigenous peoples to take a leadership role in in where we’re moving as a country.”
According to the resolution, the Green New Deal has gained momentum:
- 92 percent of Democrats and 64 percent of Republicans support the Green New Deal
- Nearly every major Democratic Presidential contender say they back the Green New deal including: Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, Jeff Merkeley, Julian Castro, Kirsten Gillibrand, Bernie Sanders, Tulsi Gabbard, and Jay Inslee.
- 45 House Reps and 330+ groups backed the original resolution for a select committee
- Over 300 local and state politicians have called for a federal Green New Deal
- New Resolution has20 co-sponsors, about 30 groups (numbers will change by Thursday).
“We are going to transition this country into the future and we are not going to be dragged behind by our past,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
For more detailed information about the Green New Deal and frequently asked questions, click here.
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