A glimpse at The New Green Deal

Whether it’s a deadly cold front, a hole under an Antarctic glacier, or terrifying threats to existing ecosystems, there seems to be constant reminders of the dangers that climate change poses to humanity.

This is why U.S. Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Ed Markey have proposed an ambitious solution known as “The New Green Deal.” The deal is basically a massive policy package that includes phasing out fossil fuel use, along with a 10-year economic mobilization to overhaul the nation’s infrastructure by transitioning the U.S. to 100 percent renewable, zero-emission energy sources.

Numerous high-profile political leaders such as Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders have shown their support for the proposed deal, as well as most of the Democratic party. However, the details and logistics of putting the proposed bill to practice is where the opposing Republicans could not find compromise, leading to its defeat in the Senate on March 26.

Right now, Republicans control the Senate with 53 seats. Therefore, most people found fault in the New Green Deal by figuring that the only way it could successfully be passed is to start an all-out revolution due to the fact that the opposing side of the bill controls the Senate. 

Many leaders in the climate science communities agree that saving the world from climate change would require aggressive action.

Meanwhile, Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, of coal-heavy West Virginia, told local reporters the plan “is not feasible, not practical, and it’s not going to happen.”

“Someone’s going to have to prove to me how that can be accomplished, because it looks to me like for the foreseeable future we’re gonna be using a substantial amount of fossil fuels,” said Rep. Francis Rooney to NPR, a Republican from Florida, and co-chair of the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus.

The idea and intentions behind the bill are certainly coming from a good place, but the execution of the policies within the bill seemed to have stumped most. Although the bill was shot down, it certainly did still accomplish something; it has opened the next phase of movement and a stronger will to find a way to someday defeat climate change.

Mindy Lubber, a former litigator and regional director for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, stands with those who are still determined to find a solution and still holds high hopes. “We will continue our work to highlight the economic and business case for climate action, focusing on increasing bipartisan ambition toward solutions that build a more sustainable and equitable low-carbon economy and planet.”

Although the New Green Deal has been shut down, hope is not lost. There is certainly new ideas and proposals being worked on so that someday we can find a way to make our planet healthy again.

Abby Martinson | edinboro.spectator@gmail.com

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