Introduced in 2019 by democrat Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, the green new deal lays out a (debated) grand plan for tackling climate change. It builds upon many different pieces of work, but was accelerated in 2018 by youth activist group "the Sunrise Movement" during their sit-in outside the office of Nancy Pelosi, the soon-to-be-speaker of the House of Representatives.
Leveraging funding and providing investments for community-defined projects and strategies.
Eliminating pollution and greenhouse gas emissions as much as technologically feasible. Guaranteeing universal access to clean water. Reducing the risks posed by climate impacts. Ensuring that any government infrastructure project addresses climate change.
Dramatically expanding and upgrading renewable power sources. Deploying new capacity.
Building or upgrading to energy-efficient, distributed, and “smart” power grids, and ensuring affordable access to electricity.
Upgrading all existing buildings and building new buildings to achieve maximum energy efficiency, water efficiency, safety, affordability, comfort, and durability, including through electrification.
Removing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing and industry as much as is technologically feasible, including by expanding renewable energy manufacturing and investing in existing manufacturing and industry.
Working collaboratively with farmers and ranchers to remove pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector as much as is technologically feasible, including by supporting family farming, by investing in sustainable farming and land use practices that increase soil health, and by building a more sustainable food system that ensures universal access to healthy food.
Overhauling transportation systems to remove pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector as much as is technologically feasible, including through investment in zero-emission vehicle infrastructure and manufacturing, clean, affordable, and accessible public transit and high-speed rail.
Mitigating and managing the long-term adverse health, economic, and other effects of pollution and climate change, including by providing funding for community-defined projects and strategies.
Proven low-tech solutions increase soil carbon storage, such as land preservation and afforestation.
Locally appropriate and science-based projects can enhance biodiversity and support climate resiliency.
Economic development and sustainability on those sites can be ensured.
This expertise can be used to help other countries achieve a Green New Deal.
It is crucial to involve frontline and vulnerable communities, labor unions, worker cooperatives, civil society groups, academia, and businesses.
Communities, organizations, Federal, State, local government agencies, and businesses wokring on the Green New Deal should receive adequate capital (including through community grants, public banks, and other public financing), technical expertise, supporting policies, and other forms of assistance.
Existing laws, new policies and programs should take into account those costs, and ensure that frontline and vulnerable communities shall not be adversely affected.
All citizens should have access to these resources, in order for them - with a focus on frontline and vulnerable communities - to be full and equal participants in the Green New Deal mobilization.
Directing investments to spur economic development, deepen and diversify industry and business in local and regional economies, and build wealth and community ownership, while prioritizing high-quality job creation and economic, social, and environmental benefits in frontline and vulnerable communities, and deindustrialized communities, that may otherwise struggle with the transition away from greenhouse gas intensive industries.
Processes should be inclusive of and led by frontline and vulnerable communities and workers to plan, implement, and administer the Green New Deal mobilization at the local level.
The Green New Deal mobilization should create high-quality union jobs that pay prevailing wages, hire local workers, offer training and advancement opportunities, and guarantee wage and benefit parity for workers affected by the transition. Those jobs should offer family-sustaining wage, adequate family and medical leave, paid vacations, and retirement security. The should strengthen and protect the right of all workers to organize, unionize, and collectively bargain free of coercion, intimidation, and harassment. The should also strengthen and enforce labor, workplace health and safety, antidiscrimination, and wage and hour standards across all employers, industries, and sectors.
The goal is to stop the transfer of jobs and pollution overseas, and to grow domestic manufacturing in the country.
For all decisions that affect indigenous peoples and their traditional territories, honoring all treaties and agreements with indigenous peoples, and protecting and enforcing the sovereignty and land rights of indigenous peoples.
The goal is to ensure a commercial environment where every businessperson is free from unfair competition and domination by domestic or international monopolies.
High-quality health care; affordable, safe, and adequate housing; economic security; clean water, clean air, healthy and affordable food, and access to nature.