Green new deal
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Green new deal
The magnitude of the climate related problems nowadays creates an oppressive feeling, as if we cannot go back and the extinction of ecosystems is certain. But if we look back, just a few months we see something hopefull. March 2020, the first lockdown caused by the Covid-19. Fresh air through the cities! In New Delhi, particulate matter had been reduced by 71%, worldwide CO2 emissions had been reduced by 25%, the water quality of the Ganga River improved by 40-50%, all in a few months (ScienceDirect). But the real effect of months of global locdowns was only that global heating was cut by just 0.01C by 2030(the guardian). This shows that if we want to achieve our climate goals, preserve our ecosystems, and avoid getting into climate wars, we need to slow down, and quickly. Various proposals and transitions are being developed worldwide that aim to combat climate change accelerated by humans.
In 2017, the United States stepped out of the climate agreement, a disaster for nature and people who are on the front lines of climate change. Since then, there has been a lot of opposition, many population groups, scientists, political parties and climate activist groups oppose the current regime. Since 2017, they have been working hard on a new proposal which appeared in March 2019, Called The Green new Deal.
The Green New Deal (Ocasio-Cortez et al. H. RES. 109.) is inspired by the New Deal by Franklin D. Roosevelt in the times of the great depression. The GND is a congressional resolution by Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Edward J. Markey to mobilize every aspect of American society to 100% clean and renewable energy, guarantee living-wage jobs for anyone who needs one, and a just transition for both workers and frontline communities — all in the next 10 years.
The green new deal is a 14 page long resolution that applies to every American and consists of two parts, the first part is about achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and the second part is about the resilience of the population, called just transition. To achieve this goal, the following will be required, stating that this must be done as far as technology allows and that this will be available for everyone. (Washington post)
• Job safety
• High quality health care
• Safe housing
• Access to clean water, air, food and nature
• High quality education
• 100% clean, renewable and zero emissions energy sources
• Upgrading infrastructure
• Access to electricity by smart power grids
• Upgrading all buildings to maximize energy efficiency
• Zero emissions vehicle infrastructure and manufacturing; (ii) clean, affordable, and accessible public transportation; and (iii) high-speed rail.
• Removing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions of all industries “Spurring massive growth in clean manufacturing
• Collaborate with farmers to eliminate pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector.
If this transition takes place without taking into account companies and employees in polluting sectors, a lot of unemployment will arise and the transition will have huge consequences. That is why this resolution not only ensures technological transition but also ensures that no one is left behind through the just transition mechanism.
Just transition is a method that is used worldwide to make a transition run smoothly, the point is that everyone involved in this transition has a voice and comes out better. What is good to see is that political leaders apply this idea in their campaigns, Democrat Bernie Sanders describes it in his campaign as follows: Just transition is for the workers and companies who are affected by the regulations, it offers them housing assistance, job training , health care, pension support, and priority job placement for any displaced worker, as well as early retirement support for those who choose it or can no longer work. In addition to political parties, there are many organizations that work for just transition and the GND. The climate justice alliance calls just transition. Just transition as a place-based set of principles, processes, and practices that build economic and political power to shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy. This means approaching production and consumption cycles holistically and waste-free.
Examples and inspiring video’s that explain the GND & Just transition:
3. Now This, Why We Need Alexandria Ocasio Cortez’s Green New Deal
4. Ruhr area Germany, Just transition from old coal mining
5. Climate justice alliance, just transition, The Frontline is a Force
6. Sunrise movement - Green new deal
Green deals
In the EU there is also a green deal, but this is many times smaller in both impact and financial capacity. There is a lot of criticism about this deal as greenhouse gasses are still being emitted and taking action means to reduce emissions, taxating and compensation them. There is a campaign that has made the Green new deal for Europe. The Green New Deal for Europe is an international campaign for a swift, just, and democratic transition to a sustainable Europe. Founded in April 2019 by the Democracy in Europe Movement (DiEM25), the Green New Deal for Europe aims to unite Europe’s communities, unions, parties, and activists behind a shared vision of environmental justice.
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