Ocasio-Cortez reveals outline for new climate change deal
Democrat Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez released the outline of the 'Green New Deal' on Thursday, a plan to fight climate change while dealing with economic and racial injustice.
The paper from Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Ed Markey was endorsed by sixty members of the House and nine senators.
Ocasio-Cortez told NPR that the plan aims for the US to develop a carbon-neutral economy in 10 years, with a reduction in the burning of oil, gas and coal in the US, although there is no specific date for the phasing out of fossil fuels.
The paper claims it is the government’s duty “to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions” which means supporting clean energy until 100% of the power demand is covered by renewable energies.
It vows to start projects aimed to protect the country and the US people from the effects of natural disasters intensifying due to climate change.
It also endorses universal healthcare, jobs and free higher education as it claims the US is currently experiencing several crises including life expectancy decline, lack of access to basic needs such as water and food and a 4-decade trend of “economic stagnation, deindustrialization and anti labor policies” that have brought down wages, job numbers, economic racial divide and a gender earnings gap.
The paper vows to create millions of good, high-wage jobs and secure the economic prosperity and security of every citizen in the US.
The deal is unlikely to be passed by the Senate and the White House which is still controlled by the Republicans. It also comes at a time when President Donald Trump often jokes about global warming and climate change and questions the science behind the phenomenon even when the latest study from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2018 warned that the overheating of the world at the current levels would lead to disastrous impact on ecosystems and human health much sooner than expected.
In the beautiful Midwest, windchill temperatures are reaching minus 60 degrees, the coldest ever recorded. In coming days, expected to get even colder. People can’t last outside even for minutes. What the hell is going on with Global Waming? Please come back fast, we need you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 29 de enero de 2019
Nevertheless the deal could be a path with specific legislation goals which Democrats might follow when vying for the White House in 2020.