America is in trouble. Economically and environmentally, we are on the brink of
collapse, from inflation to a rapidly depleting supply of natural resources. We must take action on these issues before it’s too late, and there is a solution to both: a green new deal. Transitioning to a green economy will create new jobs in manufacturing and begin to reverse the damage humanity has done to the environment. It will also help re establish America as a leading power on the global stage.
Last month, we witnessed a once-in-a-lifetime event: a hurricane in New York. We
watched as subway stations flooded to the ceiling with water like a scene in a dystopian movie. And to make matters worse, this isn’t the first time. “Once-in-a-lifetime” hurricanes and forest fires seem to occur several times a year, let alone once in our lives. As long as we stay inactive on solving climate change, these horrific events will continue to wreck our country- over and over and over again.
However, we can do something. A green new deal is exactly what we need to prevent
many of these deadly disasters from ever happening again. As detailed in John Podesta’s article, “A Green Economy Will Produce Many New Green Jobs” and Robert Pollin’s “Investing in Green Jobs Will Reduce Unemployment,” the plan centers on 6 key goals:
● Retrofitting buildings to increase energy efficiency: Installing upgrades such as efficient
lighting and day-lighting, geothermal heating and cooling, and high performance
windows in buildings will increase energy efficiency in communities all across the
country.
● Expanding mass transit and freight rail: Expanding bus and subway services, lowering
the price of public transportation, and increased investment into the operation and
maintenance of state-level transportation operation systems will reduce carbon emissions
from vehicles and expand access to transportation for all Americans.
● Constructing "smart" electrical grid transmission systems: Making advancements in
information technology and power system management will make electrical energy
distribution more efficient.
● Renewable energy: Building the infrastructure to create renewable energy will reduce
carbon emissions and our reliance on non-renewable energy.
○ Wind
○ Solar
○ Biofuels
Achieving these goals will protect us from two critical issues. Firstly, we will reduce our
carbon emissions, which will combat global warming, and prevent disasters like forest fires and hurricanes which are fueled by the exponentially increasing global temperature. Secondly, we will protect ourselves from running out of energy as our natural resource supply is depleting rapidly. Switching to renewable sources of energy like wind and solar power will ensure that America will never face an energy crisis that could ruin our economy and future.
At the same time, our country is in the midst of what seems to be a million different
unemployment rates from 5.7% to 4.4%. Implementing green energy systems on a nation-wide scale will boost our economy in many different ways. Firstly, the plan will create 2 million new jobs, which will reduce rates from 5.7% to 4.4%. Furthermore, these jobs will largely be centered in the construction and manufacturing sectors, which are struggling at the moment. Additionally, it will create 4 times as many jobs and 3 times as many “good jobs” (jobs that pay more than $16 an hour) than the oil industry while spending the same amount. A green economy will also create opportunities for restructuring career ladders through training & development, which can open paths out of poverty for many people. Creating new sources of energy will also reduce oil prices, which get more and more expensive by the day. Lastly, we can reduce our reliance on foreign countries for oil by producing our own energy domestically. Currently, we are spending 22% of total household expenditures on imports, much of which is spent on oil, and implementing this plan would reduce that number to just 9%. Some may argue that countries like Spain, which have begun to implement similar plans, have much higher unemployment rates, and therefore, we should not follow in their footsteps. In George Will’s article “Green Jobs Will Be Too Expensive,” he states that Spain’s unemployment rate is double the EU average at 18.1 percent. However, there are several reasons why this statistic does not work. Firstly, there are a number of factors that have contributed to such high unemployment numbers, such as their dependence on the property sector (which collapsed when the housing bubble burst), rigid labor market laws, and a failing education system. Evidently, Spain’s economic issues are not caused by their green economy, but their numerous economic troubles. Secondly, although it is true that jobs in oil and coal will decline, as stated previously, 2 million new jobs will be created and oil and coal workers will be trained to work in those new
jobs. Lastly, even if jobs are lost in oil and coal production, although it is a somber reality, it may end up being a sacrifice we must take to save our planet and our lives.
Our country is in deep trouble, in more ways than one. Our economy is on a downward
spiral, and we are killing our planet day by day. It may seem like all hope is lost, that we’re
doomed for, but that simply isn’t true. Our country is powerful enough to transform our economy into one that not only provides jobs for millions more people, but saves us from countless hurricanes, forest fires, and the eventual depletion of non-renewable energy. However, we don’t have a lot of time to spare. We must act now, or we’ll be stuck on a planet with no energy and natural disasters striking us at every turn. We’ll be stuck in a country with a failing economy and unemployment numbers rising by the day. Or, we can live on a planet with clean air, unlimited energy, and drastically less deadly disasters. We can live in a country with millions more good jobs, upgraded infrastructure, and we can take back our title as the most powerful country in the world. More importantly, we can leave our children and grandchildren with a future filled with hope and promise.
Meera M
The Carbon Newsprint
Sources
Comments