The Green New Deal, sponsored by a majority of democrats, is a bold new plan to rethink the U.S. economy to focus more on sustainability rather than exploitation of resources. As climate change begins to affect Americans from massive wildfires to larger and more frequent storms, the idea of changing our economy to be more environmentally friendly is gaining popularity. There are varying views on what the Green New Deal actually is, so it is worth reading it for yourself. 

The Green New Deal includes much more than simply green initiatives, however. The proposed bill tackles the issues of income inequality, racial inequality, the stagnation of wages, and vulnerable communities who will be more impacted by climate change. This bill calls on a mobilization of the U.S. economy in a similar fashion to WWII, which created the largest middle class but largely left out communities of color. This proposed bill includes everyone, hoping to make the U.S. more inclusive and offering opportunities for people up and down the economic ladder.

The Key takeaways for the Green New Deal, tackling each within 10 years:

*Converting to 100% renewable energy

*Adapting to Climate change by building resiliency to climate related disasters

*Repairing and upgrading America’s infrastructure

*Eliminating Pollution and Greenhouse gases as much as possible

*Guaranteeing access to clean water

*Building and transitioning to “smart” grids

*Upgrade all Buildings in the U.S. to maximum efficiency including water, electricity, safety, and durability

*Investing in Green Industry and removing greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing as much as possible

*Working with farmers to reduce greenhouse emissions in the agriculture sector, investing in family farms and sustainable land use practices to address soil health

 *Eliminating waste from the transportation sector by investing in zero-emission vehicle infrastructure, public transportation, and high-speed rail systems, 

*Restoring natural ecosystems to capture carbon naturally

*Restoring and protecting threatened ecosystems to promote biodiversity and resiliency

*Work to make the United States the leader in climate change by sharing ideas and technologies 

The green new deal will change the status quo we are seeing, where a majority of people want to see change on a larger scale but are discouraged by the powerful elite’s consistent refusals to tackle these massive problems in a meaningful way. 

The Idea of a Green New Deal is gaining popularity with nearly every Democratic Presidential hopeful supporting it. This is good news, something most environmental activists have wanted for a long time. Critics think the green new deal goes too far and will hurt the U.S. economy, and some continue to believe climate change isn’t real.

Read the Green New Deal in its entirety.