A LOOK AT DIFFERENT PLANS
Our organization strongly feels that our country needs a Green New Deal. So it's great that the discussion is now finally happening.
Support is growing in the United States for a Green New Deal. There are several plans out there, but the term 'Green New Deal' is broadly understood as a rapid transition to a clean energy economy with a jobs program and a stronger social safety net. There is also an emphasis on decarbonizing the economy.
There has been increasing international pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (like carbon and methane). Humanity has just over a decade to get carbon emissions under control before catastrophic climate change impacts become unavoidable. (And in many ways, the damage has already been done). But there is definitely a great need to take action before the situation gets worse.
2021 GREEN NEW DEAL PLANS
THE THRIVE ACT
On April 29th, 2021, progressives introduced the Transform, Heal, and Renew by Investing in a Vibrant Economy (THRIVE) Act. This act is a $10 trillion climate and jobs bill that would reduce emissions, rebuild infrastructure and address environmental justice over the next decade. The bill rivals President Joe Biden's infrastructure bill, which calls for a much smaller investment ($2 trillion). The THRIVE proposal is being led by Senator Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts) and Representative Debbie Dingell (D-Michigan). It aims to cut climate emissions in half by 2030 and is centered around equitable change.
Read more about it below.
Senator Ed Markey Official Website
Senator Ed Markey and Representative Dingell Introduce THRIVE Act to Foster Bold Economic Renewal (Senator Ed Markey Official Press Release, 4-29-21)
Representative Debbie Dingell Official Website
The Thrive Act (Green New Deal Network)
THRIVE AGENDA - A bold plan for economic renewal
"The THRIVE Agenda presents a bold new vision to revive our economy while addressing these interlocking crises of climate change, racial injustice, public health, and economic inequity with a plan to create dignified jobs for millions of unemployed workers and support a better life for the millions more who remain vulnerable in this pivotal moment."
Progressives Introduce Huge Climate Bill That Rivals Biden Infrastructure Plan (Truth-Out, 4-29-21)
Progressives introduced a $10 trillion climate and jobs bill that would reduce emissions, rebuild infrastructure and address environmental justice over the next decade. The bill rivals President Joe Biden’s infrastructure bill, which calls for a much smaller investment.
PROGRESSIVES FORMALLY REINTRODUCE THE GREEN NEW DEAL
On April 20th, 2021, progressive law makers, led by Senator Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts) and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), formally revived their push for a Green New Deal.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said the following. "We're going to transition to a 100 percent carbon free-economy, that is more unionized, more just, more dignified and guarantees more health care and housing than we ever have before. Do we intend on sending a message to the Biden Administration that we need to go bigger and bolder? The answer is absolutely yes." (Politico, 4-20-21)
Markey also commented on this reintroduction of the Green New Deal. “For the past two years, it has been proven that the Green New Deal isn't just a resolution — it is a revolution. Do we want to go beyond even what Joe Biden has proposed? The answer is yes. We believe that this is the moment that requires us to act big, think big, have a program that matches the magnitude of the problem that we’re confronted with. And to do so with justice." (Politico, 4-20-21)
Among the new legislation is a proposal from Representatives Cori Bush (D-Mo.) and Ocasio-Cortez that would authorize up to $1 trillion for cities, tribes and territories to fund their own localized versions of the Green New Deal.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Ocasio-Cortez also released legislation on Monday that would spend up to $172 billion on public housing over 10 years, more than quadrupling what President Joe Biden’s White House has proposed for public housing.
There’s also a new proposal from Markey and Ocasio-Cortez creating the Civilian Conservation Corps, which they said would provide employment to a diverse group of 1.5 million Americans over 5 years with jobs on climate change projects that come with strong benefits.
Read more below.
Progressives formally reintroduce the Green New Deal (Politico, 4-20-21)
OLDER PLANS
The plans below are older, but still worth referencing.
BERNIE SANDERS GREEN NEW DEAL
Bernie Sanders' Green New Deal plan is focused on averting climate catastrophe and creating 20 million new jobs.
Some have even said that Bernie Sanders' plan as the most progressive green new deal plan available.
Read more details in the links below.
Bernie Sanders' Green New Deal (Official Sanders Site)
Bernie Sanders’s ‘Green New Deal’: A $16 Trillion Climate Plan (The New York Times, 8-28-19)
Bernie Sanders’s Green New Deal, explained (Vox, 8-22-19)
Bernie Sanders’ Green New Deal is the most progressive in the race (The Verge, 8-22-19)
ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ AND THE GREEN NEW DEAL COMMITTEE
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez launched a resolution to create a committee on the Green New Deal after the 2018 midterm elections.
Her plan focuses on creating net-zero gas emissions while adding new jobs to the economy.
Links
H.Res.109 - Recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal (Read Ocasio-Cortez Deal Here)
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
JUSTICE DEMOCRATS SUPPORTS ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ
Justice Democrats is an American progressive political action committee. Their goal is to get more progressive democrats elected to Congress. This group has helped support Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Green New Deal, and her tax policies, such as a 70% tax on the super rich.
Saikat Chakrabarti and Corbin Trent (both Justice Democrats' founders) are senior staffers in her office. Her chief of staff, Chakrabarti, served on the board of Justice Democrats until he recently resigned.
Links
Justice Democrats Official Site
Justice Democrats About and Contact
Leadership Contacts
THE SUNRISE MOVEMENT SUPPORTS ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ
The Sunrise Movement is another group that supports Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Green New Deal plan.
Links
Details of the Sunrise Movement's Green New Deal Plan
Sunrise Movement Official Website
Leadership Contacts
DATA FOR PROGRESS
Data for Progress is a think tank. Details of their own vision for a green new deal are detailed below.
Links
Data for Progress Green New Deal Report
Data for Progress Official Site
Leadership Contacts
THE NEW CONSENSUS
This is a policy group that shows support for a green new deal plan. Their organizer, Demond Drummer, is also the co-founder and executive director of CoderSpace, a youth tech mentoring and education program on Chicago's South Side.
Links
New Consensus Official Website
Leadership Contacts
A LETTER FROM MORE THAN 600 DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS TO CONGRESS
More than 600 organizations, mostly environmental groups, have joined together to show their support for a Green New Deal in the United States. These 600 organizations have sent a letter to Congress detailing today's urgent climate threat, and the immediacy of the response required.
Links
Official Letter From More than 600 Organizations (PDF)
RELATED LINKS
ORGANIZATIONS
NEWS ARTICLES
Green New Deal (Wikipedia)
The Green New Deal Is Happening in China (Truth Out, 1-14-19)
A Call for the Food Movement to Get Behind the Green New Deal (Common Dreams, 1-14-19)
The Green New Deal, explained (Vox, 1-7-19)
Ocasio-Cortez-backed Green New Deal sees surprising momentum in House (Think Progress, 11-28-18)
Meet the scholar crafting the 'Green New Deal' (E&E News, 11-27-18)
Michael Bloomberg Versus the Green New Deal (Truth-out, 2-10-19)
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s climate plan is the only one that matches scientific consensus on the environment (Quartz, 6-27-18)
BOOKS
Greening the Global Economy by Robert Pollin (on Amazon)
The book describes a program for building a global clean energy economy while expanding job opportunities and economic well-being.
In this book, the economist Robert Pollin shows that the objectives of a Green New Deal are possible.