AOC reintroduces Green New Deal to kick off Earth Week

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez re-introduced the Green New Deal this week. AP Photo/ Paul Sancya

By Rachel Vick

U.S. Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced the reintroduction of the Green New Deal on Tuesday, with over a dozen new co-sponsors signed onto the bill.

The resolution, sponsored in the Senate by Ed Markey of Massachusetts, doubles down on renewable energy, resiliency and equity goals over the next 10 years. The Green New Deal outlines a master plan for creating millions of jobs as the country transitions to renewable energy — an enormous undertaking, but one scientists say will be necessary to slow the impact of the climate crisis. 

“The Green New Deal has three core components: jobs, justice and climate,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “For so long our movement towards a sustainable future has been divided with the false notion that we have to choose between our planet and our economy and we decided to come together in sweeping legislation that not only rejects that notion but creates a plan.”

“It is going to be an all-hands-on-deck approach and we refuse to leave any community behind in the process,” she added. “Those who have been left behind come first.” 

The plan prioritizes areas and people most impacted by the climate crisis including communities of color, indigenous land, de-industrialized regions and fossil fuel hubs. The regions are commonly referred to as environmental justice communities.

Ocasio-Cortez said the disproportionately affected communities will emerge as the focus of transition to a carbon-free economy “that is more unionized, just and guarantees more healthcare and housing than ever before.” 

New co-sponsors include Senator Alex Padilla and Reps. Kaiali’i Kahele, Tony Cardenas, Cori Bush, Sara Jacobs, Jake Auchincloss, Nikema Williams, Jamaal Bowman, Mondaire Jones, Ritchie Torres, Marie Newman, Katie Porter, and Teresa Leger Fernández.