Rachel S.
The Green New Deal, in a few short words, is a plan to take the world’s environmental future into our own hands. The goal? To reach zero greenhouse gas emissions and 100% renewable energy by 2030, and to provide all American citizens with equal economic rights. Named after FDR’s original New Deal of 1933, the idea of a “green” one has been buzzing around since 2006 when a global financial crisis (resembling the Great Depression) occurred. But 13 years later, the world as we know is threatened by irreversible climate change, and people of all backgrounds and opinions have decided to take action.
The Sunrise Movement, a group of dedicated youths based in almost every state, has actively been campaigning for the Green New Deal since April 2017. They have rallied over 100 congresspeople, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Ed Markey. Protests have been led (especially in DC), along with campaigns, rallies and strikes. Children are the future, and the movement’s motto is: “Together we will change this country and this world, sure as the sun rises each morning.” Indeed, the Green New Deal, if successfully enacted, will not only clear the planet’s skies but will also create 20 million jobs by converting to clean, renewable energy, restore critical infrastructure, promote sustainable agriculture, conserve ecosystems and their inhabitants, invest in clean public transport, and end worldwide conflicts over oil. The Green New Deal has the potential to make a difference.