We need a Green New Deal

The argument

Climate change is a grievous problem, which will eventually launch our planet into a crisis if action is not taken. The Green New Deal is the best way to combat this problem because it is the only proposed solution that details how we must rework our economy and society. Individual action is not enough to solve global warming. Humans did not necessarily cause this problem, but we must intervene on a global scale to solve it. There are many variations of The Green New Deal, but the largest divide exists between the UK and US proposals. Although they both focus on reaching net-zero emissions and include provisions to transition workers to new clean energy jobs, these plans hold significant differences. The American plan emphasizes universal healthcare, rectifying the ethnic wealth gap, and investing in energy-efficient infrastructure. The British version focuses on creating a fund from a tax on oil and gas profits as well as shifting away from systems that support and contribute to extreme wealth. Critics of a Green New Deal state that it would be too expensive. However, this is simply a straw man argument, because it would save money in the long run. It will certainly cost money to make changes like converting completely to clean, renewable energy, but studies show that these efforts would generate benefits and save taxpayers and consumers money as well. Currently, The Green New Deal is our best step toward reducing the catastrophic effects of climate change. For this reason, it is one our global community must take.

Context

The UN climate report shows that worsening climate change could result in rising sea levels, increased food insecurity, greater occurrence of extreme weather events, and damaged marine habitats from an increase in ocean temperatures. To combat these, a Green New Deal would first and foremost reduce carbon emissions in order to avoid some of the worst consequences of global warming. However, these proposals also include a social component in order to address the needs of those historically hurt by environmental problems as well as those currently employed in industries relying on coal and oil that may need assistance transitioning to green jobs. The phrase "Green New Deal" alludes to President Roosevelt's New Deal programs, though some Green New Deal proposals are also inspired by the industrial revolution.

Premises

Counter-arguments

Some argue, including activist Greta Thunberg, that the Green New Deal will not work because it is characterized as a liberal issue, thus alienating and inviting opposition from those who do not identify themselves as democrats.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P1] The two halves do not join up: that individual action is insufficient establishes a need for policy, not for this policy, and no alternative — carbon pricing, sectoral regulation, public investment — is named for comparison. The body's own remark that humans "did not necessarily cause this problem" also sits badly with the case being made. [Rejecting P2] "The only proposal that details how" cannot hold when the argument itself describes two substantially different Green New Deals, which shows the label covers a family of programmes rather than one specified plan. Calling the cost objection a straw man also mislabels it — cost is the objection opponents actually press — and the reply cites unnamed studies, while the counter's difficulty about partisan identification goes unanswered.

Further reading

More on the US Green New Deal: cnn.com/2019/02/14/politics/green-new-deal-proposal-breakdown/index.html More on the UK Green New Deal: https://jacobinmag.com/2019/11/labour-party-green-new-deal-manifesto-environment-climate-change More on Green New Deal (general): https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/dec/19/case-green-new-deal-ann-pettifor-on-fire-naomi-klein-review