2020-02-28
Initiated by US Democrats but now adopted by the Australian Greens
By Andrew Bromley
Hello, I live in Dunsborough Western Austral
ia with my wife and three kids. Although I am new to the Party, I have held a lifelong passion for environmental and social issues with a deep rooting in the coastal areas of our great state. As a surfer, the ocean in particular has held my focus since a young age and the degradation of our ocean habitats is particularly devastating to me. My aim is to assist in the production of Green Issue and bring a “Down South” slant to the publication.
I was very happy to see Adam Bandt, newly elected as Parliamentary Leader of the Greens, jumping straight in and putting a Green New Deal at the top of his priorities! This is particularly timely given the theme for this month’s issue, but how much does the average Australian know about the Green New Deal? Where did it originate? Who is behind it? What does it mean?
The Green New Deal is a United States congressional resolution that lays out a plan for tackling climate change and social inequality. It was introduced by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (who has become the face behind the resolution) and Senator Edward J Markey, both progressive Democrats from the Eastern Seaboard of the US.
The term Green New Deal stems from President Roosevelt’s “New Deal”, which was a raft of social and economic reforms and public projects undertaken in the wake of the Great Depression. The Green version takes this deal and combines a modern approach with ideas such as renewable energy, emission reduction, social justice and ensures that each is intertwined and supported by the other. A holistic approach, you might say.
By investing in a Green New Deal, the Democrats believe the government will be creating not only a secure, sustainable climate and socially just country, but access to universal health care, clean affordable public transport and healthy food sources. The kicker here is that this transformation will result in “massive growth in clean manufacturing” and promote an international exchange of technology, expertise and funding. It really can be a game changer.
As Adam Bandt says, although this has been a summer of complete devastation, there is hope for a better, safer world and the Green New Deal is roadmap towards this. It is up to us to strive forward and join the fight.
Header photo: US Congress Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Ed Markey promoting a Green New Deal for the USA. Wikimedia Commons
[Opinions expressed are those of the author and not official policy of Greens WA]