Last Updated on November 19, 2022 by Lily Connel
The Green New Deal is a plan to make the United States run on 100% renewable energy by 2030. This will help avoid the worst consequences of climate change. On the other hand, A big push in investment will lead to rapid cost reduction, technology improvement, and learning by doing.
The Green New Deal, or GND, is a proposal in the United States Congress for an economic stimulus package. While the original proposal consisted of standard Democratic policy ideas such as universal health care and expanded labour rights, it has gained new interest in recent weeks due to its proposed environmental policies. As stated in the GND FAQ document released in January 2019 by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), the goal of the program would be 100% clean energy generation within ten years, renewable electricity across all buildings without exception, upgrades to all buildings for the state of the art energy efficiency, high-speed rail throughout the U.S free college tuition nationwide, and guaranteed jobs at “a family-sustaining wage” for every American.
Pros and Cons Of The Green New Deal – The Differences
| Serial | Pros Of The Green New Deal | Cons Of The Green New Deal |
| 1. | The Green New Deal created more job opportunities. | The Green New Deal is a huge investment. |
| 2. | To reduce pollution, we must meet 100% clean energy generation within ten years. | The Green New Deal is very expensive and not yet clear how it will be funded. |
| 3. | The Green New Deal is to reduce HealthCare Costs. | If the Green New Deal is implemented, the quality of life may decrease. |
| 4. | A real climate action plan must include two important things: the Green New Deal and tax credits. | There’s a possibility the Green New Deal will raise taxes. |
| 5. | The new green deal could help you lower your energy bills. | To implement the Green New Deal, countries must take action. |
| 6. | To provide healthier communities, a movement has been launched to switch to 100% clean energy within ten years. | The Green New Deal may lead to energy shortages. |
| 7. | The Green New Deal is an infrastructure improvement scheme. | The Green New Deal may cause job losses. |
Pros Of The Green New Deal:
1) Create Jobs
Green New Deal would create jobs. According to Cosmo, “The green economy is projected to grow seven times faster than the overall economy in coming years, which means more jobs for Americans.”
2) Reduce Pollution
Achieving 100% clean energy generation within ten years would reduce pollution. As stated by Think Progress, “The final draft of the GND calls for getting all new buildings and appliances to be carbon neutral ‘as much as technologically feasible,’ dramatically expanding renewable power generation, meeting 100 per cent of electricity demand through clean energy sources (which implies overhauling how electricity is generated), upgrading all existing buildings for state-of-the-art energy efficiency standards.’ upgrading every residential and industrial building or site for the state of the art energy efficiency,’ establishing ‘high-speed rail powered by renewable energy nationwide, and more.”
3) Reduce The Cost Of Health Care
Green New Deal would help reduce the cost of health care. According to Cosmo, “The Green New Deal also aims to lower the costs of health care by guaranteeing access to medical care and lowering out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare recipients.”
4) Continue Renewable Energy Tax Credits
On December 18, 2018, a tax on carbon pollution was repealed. This means that renewable energy projects can be taxed more than traditional ones. If this had not been done, renewable energy projects would have continued to receive a 2.3 cents/kWh production tax credit which ended in 2016. This would have led to 10,000 new jobs in 2018 alone. 5) Reduce National Debt
The Green New Deal aims to reduce the national debt by investing money into projects that will not just benefit America now but for many decades to come. As stated by Think Progress, “According to estimates from the American Society of Civil Engineers, just meeting current infrastructure needs will require $4.6 trillion worth of investments between 2017 and 2025. A small investment up front can save trillions down the road.”
5) Better Infrastructure
Green New Deal would help improve infrastructure. As stated by Cosmo, “the plan looks to upgrade all US buildings to be more energy-efficient and improve infrastructures like water systems and roads, creating countless jobs in the process.”
6) Cleaner Air
Achieving 100% clean energy generation within ten years would help provide cleaner air. As stated by Think Progress, “One 2013 study found that reducing global warming emissions is ‘essential’ to improve air quality and public health, preventing up to 3.3 million premature deaths annually by 2030.”
7) Cleaner Water
Achieving 100% clean energy generation within ten years would help provide cleaner water. As stated by Think Progress, “Investing in renewable energy also reduces water consumption. The Union of Concerned Scientists found that if the United States met its 2020 renewable electricity goal, it would save enough water to meet the needs of more than 26 million people – or about the same number of people who live in California, Texas, and New York combined.”
8) Lower Energy Bills
Green New Deal would help lower energy bills. According to Cosmo, “The Green New Deal also aims to make sure we all have clean air and water by ensuring ‘every building, vehicle and another piece of infrastructure is retrofitted to achieve maximum energy efficiency.’ In addition, the GND promises renewable electricity at reduced costs for American homes and businesses.”
9) Reduce Dependency On Fossil Fuels
Achieving 100% clean energy generation within ten years would reduce dependency on fossil fuels. As stated by Think Progress, “In order to meet mid-century climate goals, a study from Stanford University found that the entire United States must decarbonize by 2050 the U.S. can cut oil imports in half through 2030 while growing its economy 28 per cent with a low-carbon strategy – or it could increase foreign oil imports by 50 per cent, ultimately growing the economy only 4 per cent. The choice is clear.”
10) Healthier Communities
Achieving 100% clean energy generation within ten years would help provide healthier communities. As stated by Think Progress, “The health and economic costs of pollution can be devastating: according to a recent study from the University of Chicago and Rice University, just one extra day with poor air quality caused by fossil fuel burning costs $160 million in unnecessary ER visits and other related expenses. Air pollution also contributes to premature death – an estimated 200,000 deaths annually as a result of exposure to fine particle pollutants alone.”
11) Cleaner Environment For Future Generations
Green New Deal would help create a cleaner environment for future generations. According to Think Progress, “The Green New Deal has long-term benefits for our planet and provides a way to protect it for generations.” and is also an important step forward in protecting the environment.
Cons Of Green New Deal:
1) Huge Cost
The Green New Deal will require a huge investment. As stated by The Hill, “The nonbinding resolution calls for the mobilization of resources on a scale not seen since World War II to achieve ‘100% renewable energy and zero greenhouse gas emissions in 10 years.”
2) Unclear How It Will Be Paid For
The cost of the Green New Deal is unclear and how it will be paid for is also unknown. As stated by Fortune, “The proposal does not include any price tag, though its authors say it would cost less than the green jobs initiatives of Presidents Barack Obama and Franklin D. Roosevelt combined.”
3) May Cause Job Losses
There is potential that the Green New Deal may cause job losses. As stated by The Hill, “The deal is also likely to face opposition from Republicans and some moderate Democrats concerned about its potential to kill jobs in industries that rely on fossil fuels.”
4) May Cause Lesser Quality Of Life
There is potential that the Green New Deal may cause a decrease in the quality of life. As stated by The Daily Wire, “The green new deal would also require Americans to reduce their standard of living by making do with less energy…It would force people out of their cars and into public transportation (which is often unreliable, dangerous, and subject to delays), mandate more expensive, less reliable renewable energy sources instead of affordable traditional ones, and make it difficult, if not impossible, to heat and cool their homes.”
5) May Cause Less Energy Availability
There is potential that the Green New Deal may cause a decrease in the availability of energy. As stated by The Daily Wire, “The green new deal would also require Americans to reduce their standard of living by making do with less energy…It would force people out of their cars and into public transportation (which is often unreliable, dangerous, and subject to delays), mandate more expensive, less reliable renewable energy sources instead of affordable traditional ones, and make it difficult, if not impossible, to heat and cool their homes.”
6) May Cause Higher Taxes
There is potential that the Green New Deal may cause higher taxes. As stated by Town Hall, “The Green New Deal would be funded in part by a proposed ‘climate tax,’ and the U.S. could become a net energy exporter.”
7) It Will Require Action From Many Countries
To implement the Green New Deal, many countries will have to take action. According to Think Progress, “Deadly heat waves — such as the one that swept much of India last year — are likely to strike more often due to climate change” and “the GND cites an American Lung Association report that says 8 – 10% of all premature deaths in the U.S., including tens of thousands of children, can be attributed to air pollution.”
Everything You Need To Know About The Green New Deal (GND)
Critics of the GND argue that its environmental goals are unrealistic and that the cost would be prohibitively high. Supporters argue that climate change is an existential threat to humanity and must be addressed immediately and that the benefits of the program would far outweigh its costs.
The Green New Deal has been endorsed by a number of high-profile Democrats, including Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI). However, it has not yet been introduced as a bill in Congress, so its timing and viability are uncertain.
The Green New Deal, or GND, is a proposal in the United States Congress for an economic stimulus package. While the original proposal consisted of standard Democratic policy ideas such as universal health care and expanded labour rights, it has gained new interest in recent weeks due to its proposed environmental policies. As stated in the GND FAQ document released in January 2019 by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), the goal of the program would be 100% clean energy generation within ten years, renewable electricity across all buildings without exception, upgrades to all buildings for the state of the art energy efficiency, high-speed rail throughout the U.S., free college tuition nationwide, and guaranteed jobs at “a family-sustaining wage” for every American.
Critics of the GND argue that its environmental goals are unrealistic and that the cost would be prohibitively high. Supporters argue that climate change is an existential threat to humanity and must be addressed immediately and that the benefits of the program would far outweigh its costs.
Conclusion
There are many pros and cons to the Green New Deal. Those in favour of the deal argue that it will create jobs, improve infrastructure, and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. On the other hand, those who are opposed to the deal argue that it is too costly, may cause job losses, and may decrease the quality of life. Only time will tell if the Green New Deal is successful or not.
