Washington — The Green New Deal has been a cause of controversy since it was first introduced in 2019, with progressives touting it as a last-ditch effort to stave off a climate disaster, and conservatives decrying it as government overreach.
Senator Ed Markey and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the bill’s two lead Democratic sponsors, reintroduced the Green New Deal last month.
The companion measures introduced in the House and Senate by Markey and Ocasio-Cortez are “simple” resolutions, meaning they would not require the president’s signature or carry the force of law.
The Green New Deal has several ambitious goals, including a reduction in greenhouse gas and toxic emissions to keep the planet under 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming, creating “millions of good, high-wage unions jobs” and investing in sustainable infrastructure.
The resolution says that certain steps need to be taken to achieve the goals of the Green New Deal, including providing universal health care and “affordable, safe and adequate housing” for all Americans.
But even though the Green New Deal is unlikely to pass in Congress, it has been an important agenda-setter for climate change proposals over the past two years.
Markey has already introduced a bill in the Senate to create a Civilian Climate Corps “to help communities respond to climate change and transition to a clean economy.” Ocasio-Cortez has introduced the companion bill in the House.
will cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least half from 2005 levels by 2030, which would put the nation on a path to reach Mr. Biden’s goal of achieving a net-zero energy grid by 2035, and a net-zero economy by 2050.
However, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Monday that he would be willing to raise the offer to $600 to $800 billion, signaling that Republicans are open to negotiations.