Commentary

The launch of the Green New Deal Bill

Posted on 20 September 2019

After over 10 years of development the Green New Deal Group have launched the full version of a Green New Deal Bill. The launch coincides with the global climate strikes during which millions will take to the streets to demand meaningful action to tackle climate change. Will the bill be the catalyst for the legislative changes needed to reduce our national carbon emissions and transform our economy for the better?

The Green New Deal Bill (formal title, the decarbonisation and economic strategy bill) is an ambitious programme of legislative change, based on principles of justice and equality. It was tabled by Green MP Caroline Lucas, working with Labour MP Clive Lewis, and aims to “move our economy away from its harmful dependence on carbon at the scale and speed demanded by the science, and to build a society which lives within its ecological limits while at the same time reversing social and economic inequality“.

The Green New Deal group is made up of a range of politicians, economists, activists, academics and journalists, including Rapid Transition Alliance Coordinator Andrew Simms. Alongside the bill, the Green New Deal group have published a report outlining what the bill proposes and how this can be create the transformative change required.

The launch of the bill comes at a time when national interest in climate change is at an all time high. The British public are becoming more aware of the climate emergency and increasingly supporting calls for political action on climate change.

This short film made by New Weather and Bank Job Pictures, Scarlett, Emilia, Tsing and Haanyah asking people to support the Green New Deal.

 Led by a highly engaged and active, global youth movement, huge numbers of people are joining the calls for bold action from government.

Today’s climate strikes show there is a huge appetite for rapid social, political and economic change now and the Green New Deal outlines how a positive set of actions can make this happen.

Find out more: https://greennewdealgroup.org/