Is Green the best climate deal?

For the first time, the U.S. Congress is looking for solutions to the climate emergency. The Green New Deal plus a price on carbon may be the best solution.

We are facing an existential threat and we are running out of time. Unless we act now, with courage, honesty, and respect, we will fail. It is all about greenhouse emissions.

Horse emissions

Using horses as a source of power was a major transition from manpower. Transitioning from horses to combustion engines was even harder because there were many horses and peripheral industries that supported them. The horse-based economy created smelly emissions. In 1908, New York’s 120,000 horses produced 60,000 gallons of urine and 3 million pounds of manure every day.

Carbon emissions

Our challenge is to transition away from burning fossil fuels to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from 410 ppm to 350 ppm. This will keep global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2030.

We have delayed the transition to electric buses and vehicles, the cars of the future we all dreamed about. Our fossil fuel-based economy has a chokehold on the largest banks and the U.S. government. POTUS is our worst polluter, flying to Florida on Air Force One to play golf most weekends. What if instead, POTUS joined the Mini Golf Senior League at the East Potomac DC Golf Course, a 9-hole league?

Green New Deal

Sunrise is a growing movement of young people united to stop the climate crisis. They understand the consequences of massive carbon dioxide emissions and demand a safe future. They have nothing to lose and are fearless.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) has changed U.S. politics in her first two months in Congress. Her congressional resolution for the GND (H.R. 196) was approved by the House. The resolution was ignored in the Senate with cartoon exhibits by Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah). Lee later said “getting married and having babies” will solve the climate emergency.

The GND is a bold, science-based, realistic solution, endorsed by congressional Democrats, and supported by thousands of smart youth activists worldwide. The intended outcome of the GND is to safeguard the future of life. The GND goals are clear-sighted, necessary, and complementary.

The GND goals are: 1) achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions; 2) create millions of good, high-wage jobs; 3) invest in infrastructure and industry; 4) secure clean air and water; 5) promote justice and equity for frontline and vulnerable communities. The main goal is to reduce carbon emissions to 350 ppm by 2030, as stated in 2018 by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

“GND is about creating a sustainable future. GND strives to repair historic oppression of indigenous peoples, communities of color, migrant communities, deindustrialized communities, depopulated rural communities, the poor, low-income workers, women, the elderly, the unhoused, people with disabilities, and youth.” H.R. 196

“GND will secure for all people of the United States for generations to come, clean air and water; climate and community resiliency; healthy food; access to nature; and a sustainable environment.” H.R. 196

Citizens Climate Lobby

The CCL has a bipartisan resolution to make polluters pay for carbon emissions. Here is what Mark Reynolds, CCL Executive Director said:

“CCL and our supporters understand the urgency of the climate crisis and agree that it requires big solutions. The resolution from Senator Markey and Rep. Ocasio-Cortez calls for a swift transition away from fossil fuels, and Citizens’ Climate Lobby shares that important goal.

“We believe the recently introduced Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019 (H.R. 763) is a key component to achieving those emissions reductions.”

Political reality

The GOP politicians have sold their souls to Koch and dark money, with a pledge for fossil fuels, energy domination, and endless wars. Everyone knows we have a climate emergency. Why else would POTUS build seawalls to protect his golf resorts?

GND and CCL are the best climate solution

CCL and their dedicated members and supporters joining forces with the Sunrise kids and AOC are our best hope.

Dr. Luis Contreras