Climate Change: The Mother of the Green New Deal

Political Issues on the Importance of the Green New Deal

Alexier Rodriguez, Journalist

  The manifestation of the Non-Greenhouse movement under the 116th Congress and 1st Session was submitted by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) and Sen. Ed Markey (MA) on February 7th of 2019 to inform the federal government of the importance in creating the Green New Deal Act to eliminate the most harmful gases such as Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide, and Water vapor.

  Under the title of “Resolution,” it allowed the select committee to acknowledge and recognize the human actions that have led to climate change. In fact, this issue has inspired many political leaders to use this delicate topic as a strategic tool for personal gain.

  For example, at a presidential campaign event in May 2008, Senator John McCain explained, “We stand warned by serious and credible scientists . . . that time is short and the dangers are great. The most relevant question now is whether our own government is equal to the challenge.” A direct and criticizing comment that allowed his position to be recognized more by not only the federal agency, but by the public as well. Despite his efforts and others along the way, however, the Carbon emissions in the U.S. have rose a shocking 3.4% as of 2018.

  The importance of this topic, however, is not intended for publicity, but for honest resolutions and unlike the American Clean Energy Act and Security Act, the Green New Deal is one of the biggest and most important deals that we have seen since 2009. Not only because it will reduce carbon emissions, but it will also cause a dramatic shift in resources (coal, fossil fuels, octane gases, diesel) and transportation (cars, trucks, planes, boats). Basically, all man made devices, resources, and tools that we currently depend on would be restricted and we would be forced back into the Stone Age.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ed Markey are advocates of the Green Deal.  Pete Marovich/The New York Times/Redux/eyevine 

   Ocasio states, “Human activity is the dominant cause of observed climate change over the past century; causing sea levels to rise and an increase in wildfires, severe storms, droughts, and other extreme weather events that threaten human life, healthy communities, and critical infrastructure.”

   In addition, according to the ‘‘Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C’’ by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Fourth National Climate Assessment report, the U.S. has been a key factor in emitting 20 percent of global greenhouse emissions through 2014. Therefore, the United States must take a leading role in reducing emissions to guide other countries towards a zero carbon goal.

   Yet, the overall goal of the Green New Deal “is to treat Climate Change like an existential threat that it is by drafting an ambitious solution on the scale necessary to get it done” says Ocasio. All possible through strong public support from young activists to have an impact on the 2020 election for greenhouse awareness.