Last month, freshman congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez proposed an environmental resolution amid an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report that humanity has only a decade to positively impact climate change. AOC’s “Green New Deal” has flaws, mainly the cost and several social resolutions not tied to the environment, but the base ideas seem simple enough for most Democrats to agree on them.
However, this is not the case. Dissenting Democrats have instead turned a plan with small issues and a lofty price tag from something they could build answer to climate change out of into a weapon for Republicans.
The Green New Deal proposes everything from eliminating all nonrenewable energy to eliminating greenhouse gas emission caused by agriculture. Admittedly, many of these goals are far too expensive and lack explanations of how to bring every person in America, even those in poverty, to this environmentally sustainable standard of living, but something must be done. The talks about how we’re going to save our planet have to begin.
The Republican party is a scourge on the environment. The party is so radically out of touch with the rest of the world they actively deny scientific consensus to protect their corporate interests. It's far too apparent there will be no reasoning with the vast majority of republican congressmen on this issue.
This is where dissenting Democrats are failing their constituents. Last week’s incident involving Sen. Dianne Feinstein is a perfect example. When approached by young activists, some elementary school aged, pleading with her to sponsor the bill she instead chose to lecture them about why they were wrong. Democrats shouldn’t have to worry about getting Feinstein’s vote, with a record as one of the most progressively environmental senators her vote should have been a guarantee
Another issue is the alternate proposals being brought up by congress members. Feinstein herself proposed a much more passive climate change bill, but if the IPCC is right, that will be far too late. If the Green New Deal is too ambitious Feinstein’s bill is too passive and is just more of the stagnation we’ve seen when it comes to climate change in American politics.
It's no longer a question of when we will begin feeling the effects of climate change, it’s happening today. Mass migrations of environmental refugees and irreversible damage will be well on our doorstep in coming decades.
Trump spent his weekend pushing more rhetoric, exaggerations, and plain lies about what limiting climate change will bring at the Conservative Political Action Committee. Meanwhile Democrats were becoming divided on the issue and giving more fuel to Mitch McConnell's’ unbelievable attacks on those in office trying to make a difference.
If Congress had spent the last 20 years heeding the warnings of scientists and preparing small bills that slowly implemented changes to our energy sources and emissions we wouldn't be in need of a complete overhaul. In 2019 there is no more time for bureaucracy. Politicians have chose to put climate change aside for over a decade in the interest of political gain and we are now quickly approaching a breaking point.
Only a totally united Democratic party will stand a chance of getting this bill through the house let alone the Republican controlled senate, but some Democrats seem to have no interest in party unity on this issue.
Noah Wright is an undecided sophomore studying at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk to Noah? Tweet him @NoahCampaign.
