Bernie Sanders
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Bernie Sanders addresses climate change in the Green New Deal
The Green New Deal is one of the only proposed plans that scientists say aligns with what needs to be done to address Climate Change.
2020 US Election
Bernie Sanders
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Context
As candidates work towards the UN guideline of carbon neutrality by 2050, the range of legislative routes being proposed by Democratic candidates is extensive.
The Argument
Sanders released his Green New Deal in August 2019.[1] The policies propose the radical reform America needs to avoid certain doom at the hands of climate change. Among other things, it proposes to decarbonise the U.S. power generation and transport industries by 2030, to crack down on fossil fuel industries, and to create 20 million jobs in the quest to fight climate change.[2]
Sanders' policies have been praised by climate activists, and has been ranked as the strongest Presidential candidate on climate change, by both Greenpeace[3] and the Sunrise Movement.[4] His proposals offer the strongest reforms of any candidate to combat the most pressing issue of our time: climate change.
Counter arguments
The Green New Deal is unrealistic. It will never be able to pass, because many state's economies are reliant on fossil fuels.[5] Additionally, the plans outlined to pay for it are largely unrealistic, considering the astronomical amount of money it will cost.[6] There is also no plan put in place for China and India, two extremely large countries whose carbon footprint is only growing as they develop.[7] What is the point in curbing the U.S. environmental footprint if it is only going to be offset by other countries?
Proponents
Premises
[P1] Climate change is the most pressing issue facing voters and is an immediate emergency.
[P2] Sanders' legislative plan is the only one that will efficiently tackle the issue.
[P3] Therefore, Sanders is the most logical choice for Democratic candidate.
Rejecting the premises
[Rejecting P2] Sanders' plan is not a viable one, as it is unrealistic and will put America at a disadvantage.
References
- https://berniesanders.com/en/issues/green-new-deal/
- https://www.vox.com/2019/8/22/20827396/bernie-sanders-2020-climate-policy-green-new-deal
- https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/climate2020/
- https://scorecard.sunrisemovement.org/
- http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/02/democrats-need-a-climate-plan-the-green-new-deal-isnt-it.html
- https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/22/climate/bernie-sanders-climate-change.html
- https://www.heritage.org/environment/commentary/its-not-just-about-cost-the-green-new-deal-bad-environmental-policy-too