what is the green new deal?
It’s an ambitious plan to decarbonise our economy and
tackle economic and social inequalities
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It looks at the climate crisis as many joined up issues,
not just an environmental one
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It demands major system and structural changes from
our economic, societal and democratic systems
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A Green New Deal has justice at its core — understanding
that we’re all in the same storm, but not in the same boat
Why do we need a green new deal?
The climate crisis isn’t just an environmental one - although we’ve been trying to solve it through that narrow lens for a long time.
An example might be:
simply replacing petrol cars with electric ones, without looking at the deep problems with a car-focussed society and how expensive electric cars exclude many who can’t afford them
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People are facing multiple crises, all the time. The climate and environmental crises are huge problems, but for many, it’s years away. Finding money to put food on the table, or to heat your house, dealing with racism, or losing your job are all immediate personal and societal crises – can we really ask people to choose which crisis matters most to them?
Can we ask people to wait for those problems to be fixed
while we deal with climate change?
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A Green New Deal means not leaving anyone behind, making sure that climate solutions are also societal ones, and don’t adversely affect people across different communities.
By applying technical eco-fixes to paper over structural cracks, we avoid addressing the underlying problem. When we stop treating the environment as an isolated system, we can understand and consider other connected problems, like inequality, poverty, racism, workers’ rights.
green new deal principles
The Green New Deal has 5 basic principles
prioritise investment in the things we need to lead decent lives, while working to eliminate social and economic inequality
Decarbonise the economy
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well paid, secure, unionised jobs guaranteeing healthy and fulfilling livelihoods for all, including those in today’s high emission sectors
Create millions of new jobs
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Rebalance power away from financial and corporate interests - ensuring our economy works for everyone, but within its environmental limits
rebalance power
3
Protect and restore our vital habitats, of which Devon has many, and provide clean air and water and green spaces for all
restore our vital habitats
4
acting quickly to mitigate climate impacts and support other countries to do the same. But also accounting for our historic role in the climate crisis through our historic emissions and exploitation of resources across the world
promote global justice
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