What is the New Green Deal?

How did that happen? In a matter of weeks, the New Green Deal has gone from an idea, a vague longing for a World War II mobilization to fight climate change, to a congressional resolution backed by more than sixty represenatives and numerous senators, including those who are running for president.

I wanted to give you some resources if you’re interested in researching it on your own.

Here’s the text of the resolution, all 14 pages:

apps.npr.org/documents/document.html

The resolution lays out the case that climate change is dangerous and costly and that United States has morphed into a two-tier society with life-expectancy declining, basic needs going unmet, and one percent of earners accruing 91 percent of the gains since the Great Recession of 10 years ago.

Missoula writer, Lance Olson, says, “. . . the dangers of concentrated wealth have been hiding in plain sight” and quotes several Wall Street Journal writers who look back to the bloody French Revolution as an example of what happens when the privileged think they’re immune to the consequences of a warped democracy.

The New Green Deal is another path. According to David Roberts, a great writer when it comes to climate issues, the resolution “threads the needle” and appeals to climate activists, social justice advocates, and labor unions. Here’s Roberts’ analysis:

www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2019/2/7/18211709/green-new-deal-resolution-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-markey

In short order the Green New Deal has four major goals: achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, creating jobs, providing a just transition, and securing clean air and water.

Judging by the comments of the 50-plus people who attended 350 Montana’s Green New Deal conversation last Thursday, those goals are very popular. 

What can you do? Make sure you contact our federal representatives, Senators Tester and Daines and Congressman Gianforte and tell them you want them to support the New Green Deal.

And I hope you can bring a friend and some good ideas to 350 Montana’s action committee meeting on Monday, February 18, 5:30 p.m., in the second floor ballroom of the Union Hall.

Jeff Smith, co-chair, 350 Montana