The Green New Deal is a term that has been thrown around recently as a potential option to address serious issues related to climate change. While many people have heard about this proposal, there are still a lot of questions about what it actually entails. The Green New Deal is a term that builds off of the New Deal that was run by Franklin Roosevelt shortly after the Great Depression. By coining a term such as the Green New Deal, legislators are seeking to build off of the successes that came from the New Deal, which was in effect about 80 years ago. Unfortunately, there is still a lot of uncertainty surrounding the proposals of the Green New Deal. What are a few of the most common questions?
What Exactly is the Green New Deal?
In the Green New Deal, the government does not fund projects directly but instead provides monetary backing to promote a variety of sources of clean energy. Some examples of clean energy include:
- Water power such as hydroelectric plants
- Solar power such as solar panels
- Wind power such as windmills
Specifically, the Green New Deal will seek to shift the country’s dependence away from fossil fuels and carbon emissions, instead choosing to focus on “green” sources of clean energy. By reducing the country’s consumption of fossil fuels, the hope is that the rate of climate change will start to slow.
What Does the Green New Deal Do?
The goal of the Green New Deal is to shift the country to 100 percent reliability on zero-emission energy sources over the next 10 years. While this is a great goal, it is a tough ask. Currently, about 80 percent of the country’s energy needs are met by the country’s consumption of fossil fuels. The country would try to create tax incentives for people to use green sources of energy. Furthermore, the Green New Deal also seeks to increase the number of educational opportunities that are available in this sector.
How Does the Green New Deal Plan to Accomplish These Goals?
Unfortunately, the specifics of the plan are still largely unknown. In the resolution that was placed before Congress, the bill tried to display the problems of climate change alongside the Green New Deal with an increased sense of urgency. Prior to this point, many of the plans to address carbon emissions have been met with legislation such as an increased tax on fossil fuels. At the very least, the Green New Deal has led to an increased discussion surrounding climate change. On the other hand, the specifics at this point are still very much unknown.
How Much Does the Green New Deal Cost?
This is another common question; however, without any specifics of the plan, it is difficult to estimate the cost of this plan. Some of the early estimates have come in at around $1 trillion per year for the next 10 years. Even though many people feel that the United States can handle a much larger deficit, it will still be tough to pass a plan through Congress until the numbers become more concrete.
