Congressional Democrats on Thursday unveiled an unprecedented plan to reverse climate change and eliminate all US carbon emissions within 10 years, by taking drastic steps that would require transformational action across the economy.
The "Green New Deal" introduced by liberal congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a rising Democratic star in the House, and Senator Ed Markey is a dramatic, potentially unrealistic, statement of intent on a sustainable path forward.
"This is our first step," Ocasio-Cortez told reporters.
"Today is the day we choose to assert ourselves as a global leader in transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy and charting that path."
The plan does not detail exactly how America will wean itself off of fossil fuels, or how much the ambitious transformation will cost.
The Republican Party hammered the deal as a "socialist wish list" which could cost upwards of $2 trillion.
The non-binding resolution is effectively a blueprint of dramatic action—it proposes "upgrading all existing buildings" in the country, for example—that could be taken to address climate change.
It is already playing a role on the 2020 presidential campaign trail, with progressive Democratic hopefuls including Senators Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren expressing support.
"The green generation has risen up, and they are saying they want this issue solved," Markey said. "So this is going to enter the 2020 election cycle as one of the top two or three issues."
The ambitious goal, according to the measure, is to achieve "net-zero greenhouse gas emissions," in part by meeting 100 percent of the power demand through clean, renewable, and zero-emission energy sources.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who appeared to brush off the resolution as a "green dream" the day before, welcomed the "enthusiasm" with which Democrats were engaging in pushing the framework.
The measure has dozens of sponsors, none of them Republican.
The goal to become carbon neutral within a decade will most likely prove exceedingly ambitious, given the oil and gas industry's deep entrenchment in the global economy.
One critical factor will be the buy-in of President Donald Trump, who pulled the US out of the Paris climate accord , as is seen by Democrats as the world's most prominent climate-change denier.
The Paris deal saw nations agree to limit global temperature rises this century to below two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit), and under 1.5C if possible.
Failure to meet those goals, scientists have said, could result in irreversible sea level rise, disastrous droughts and higher temperatures.
Explore further:
World to miss 2020 climate 'turning point': analysis
JamesG
philstacy9
Doug_Nightmare
Law and order conservative tyrants are preferred to the chaos and anarchy of progressive demagogues. That is how Adolph Shickelgruber got democratically elected. Consider the alternative then.
mrburns
howhot3
Mark Thomas
cantdrive85
The moronics of the commie libs in a brief yet expansive comment.
Mark Thomas
antialias_physorg
MR166
Mark Thomas
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for President in 2020!
antigoracle
LMAO.
Now, that's a "plan".
The Republicans should not oppose them and let their astounding stupidity be their downfall.
humy
WOW you are delusional.
Da Schneib
antigoracle
Da Schitt, the "meat" loving, knob gobbler, brays again.
This is the jackass, whose boyfriend is feeding him so much "meat", he boasts about the fact that he will never stop eating beef, despite knowing what that industry contributes to CO2 and methane.
So, the jackass believes, he's being "constructive" when he is braying at the heretics. Yep, this jackass will save the world.
Da Schneib
My wife thinks you're pretty funny and a really incompetent troll.
Enjoy it when the cesspool gang comes for you.
MR166
Da Schneib
Just askin'.
MR166
Da scientists use logic, not emotion when making political decisions. This is a political thread so my comments are germain to the thread.
TheGhostofOtto1923
-She means govt jobs. And her proposed mobilization effort would resemble mao's 5 year plans...
"led to a severe famine resulting in 40 million deaths..."
-Which is what happens when you allow high school kids like aoc to kill their teachers.
Aoc wants to eliminate air travel, rebuild all existing bldgs in the US, and pay people who dont want to work.
TheGhostofOtto1923
Mark Thomas
MR166
Did you ever hear the phrase "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." ?
Mark Thomas
If the top 1% have as much money as the bottom 99% to live on, it sure looks like they are not paying their fair share.
Mark Thomas
MR166
Nicklaus Maduro was an idealist.
Karl Marx was an idealist.
On and on the list goes.
antigoracle
The Mark ThomASS, brays.
This is the jackass who boasts about joyriding and speeding in his Tesla, totally ignorant of the fact that most of the electricity in that car comes from fossil fuels.
Yet, this jackass believes that the "right thing", is to bray at the heretics.
MR166
cantdrive85
Dumbocrats and repugnicans can be blamed for that, partly by passing schemes such as the idiotic new scam described above.
MR166
Your are 100% correct Cantdrive85. Green projects that all operate at a loss is the biggest form of Crony Capitalism in existence today.
All these projects do is raise energy costs for the poor and middle class.
Mark Thomas
BTW, my joyriding comes from nuclear and wind more than fossil fuels you moron.
torbjorn_b_g_larsson
This is a thread on a science site (despite many USians believing the *science* is political) of political outcomes (but happily immediately then USians forget to make AGW politics).
What is the science here?
- We do not need to make the world carbon neutral in 10 years, but it suffice to start replacing fossil fuels and most of all never build new coal plants.
- If we do nothing it will cost trillions of dollars and hundreds of millions migrants and tens of million deaths. If we do what we can we will get the best ROI.
- The article is AFAIK wrong, we are already in irreversible mode re extinctions and ecological changes. The difference is in degree of harm.
- tbctd -
torbjorn_b_g_larsson
What is the politics here?
- Politicians can suggest ideal goals with details to be filled in as here, it is ordinary politics.
- Regulating energy is factually modern mixed economy, whether or not US R or D does it, or anecdotal dictators or populists are brought up.
- Is the mixed economy tail of 1 % rich a problem? No, in global statistics [Gapminder] the world is still moving towards better economy for all classes, the *only and short* exception was the US middle class the decade after 2006 house market crash. Hence Trump, who ironically admitted to be one of those that earned most from short changing others, but buried that scandal as he did his other ones.
- This is re migration more effective and economical than the infamous US free nation, warmhearted, no fascist "Wally McWallface", whether concrete, steel or now latest military men as designated by the corrupt grifter president Trump. (With a less than 1/10 global and 1/3 US approval - a world record
ShotmanMaslo
antigoracle
And so, the Mark ThomASS, brays again.
This is so typical of the Chicken Little jackass. It believes that nuclear and wind supply most of the power for his Tesla, therefore, he can go on WASTEFUL joyriding.
https://www.eia.g...&t=3
Keep braying at the heretics, you jackass, that's how you'll save the world.
TheGhostofOtto1923
Meanwhile her brain is nowhere to be found.
In case euros missed dem infanticide
"Mr. Northam said late-term abortions generally involve deformed or non-viable fetuses, and he went into detail about the steps that would happen if a woman in such a case was in labor. "The infant would be resuscitated if that's what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and mother," he said."
-Generally. Most of the time. Except when they dont, which is also ok according to dems.
https://youtu.be/ihCBp0-9XAc
TheGhostofOtto1923
TheGhostofOtto1923
The other thing to consider is the gradual ceding of decision-making to AI. AI will not need competition or compromise to determine the proper course of action. It gathers all pertinent facts and produces the one best alternative. It doesnt want your opinion because opinions are inevitably tribal-based, including only favorable facts.
This will be a sort of advanced socialist one party system akin to monarchies. But we will all love it so much because the media will be free of all the lying putrid garbage we are being fed at the moment to prepare us for this pleasant respite. And things will be so much better for everyone I guarantee.
TrollBane
Nicklaus Maduro was an idealist.
Karl Marx was an idealist.
On and on the list goes.
Until you reach the Hamburgler, Sasquatch, the one-armed man from The Fugitive and that slug from under the rotting log. No matter how low you go, it's a fallacious argument.
MR166
snoosebaum
snoosebaum
and GOP should be delighted
https://climatech...GYgVCXRk
WillieWard
https://pbs.twimg...4vyr.jpg
"A Green New Deal must not sabotage climate goals" - Jan 30, 2019
https://thebullet...e-goals/
"The Only Green New Deals That Have Ever Worked Were Done With Nuclear, Not Renewables" - Feb 8, 2019
https://www.forbe...ewables/
"The Green New Deal would empower and give handout to left-wing special interest groups and industries."
"AOC's Green New Deal Is Trojan Horse for Socialism"
"Churchill: Socialism may begin with the best of intentions, but it always ends with the Gestapo."
"Socialism = short term gain (for the unproductive) and long term pain for all."
Socialism/Intermittent renewables (parasites) cannot survive without a host (capitalism / fossil-fueled grid).
jonesdave
cantdrive85
cantdrive85
― Elmer T Peterson
cantdrive85
https://www.foxne...ate-jets
granville583762
by
multiplicative of these accelerations
these quantum particles of life
there by accelerate
in quantum steps
in quantum multiplicative steps
this is how protons and electrons create their energy source
in this vacuum
by this method
quantum particles multiply their energy
so
back to our macro-world
where we live and breath
of this quantised energy
of
these quantum nucleans of which we exist
this energy trancensds this quantum-world
into our macro-world
and with them so their energy
but
do
we use this bountiful unlimited energy supply
no
no we do not
we
squabble over oil, windmills, tidal
with its supply problems into electric cars
where
as
this clouds our vision
in
our quantum-world
our
protons and electrons
continue this quantum of acceleration
that
when exploited
will power our electric cars electrically
with no need of 1000lb batteries
A little 12V starter battery is all that's needed
Mark Thomas
By your false premises, mislabeling and fundamentally flawed logic, each of you are part of the problem and have demonstrated no interest in a solution.
jonesdave
What a twat! Lol.
cantdrive85
Talk to the Sun, the issue of climate change is beyond any control man can implement. Should we continue to pollute, absolutely not. Draconian measures implemented based on lies and obfuscation is not the way to do it.
Dumbocrats and repugnicans are equally corrupt, any claims otherwise just goes to show what a moron you are as well as your naiveté.
MR166
There is nothing that irritates me more than the liberals refusal to take ownership of the failures of their ideology. President Johnson's "Great Society" and the subsequent explosion of welfare mothers is a prime example of this.
Mark Thomas
Cantdrive85 ("Talk to the Sun") and MR166 ("welfare mothers"), thank you for proving my point.
MR166
antigoracle
The Mark ThomASS, brays again.
This is the jackass who boasts about his WASTEFUL joyriding in his Tesla, ignoring the fact that most of its electricity comes from fossil fuels.
So, how does this, holier than thou jackass, saves the world. He brays at the heretics. Keep braying ThomASS.
cantdrive85
https://www.rt.co...results/
MR166
cantdrive85
Should be of no surprise, it is based on a communist dictum.
Mark Thomas
Antiporacle ("holier than thou"), just like Cantdrive85 ("Talk to the Sun") and MR166 ("welfare mothers"), thank you all for proving my point, i.e., by your false premises, mislabeling and fundamentally flawed logic, each of you are part of the problem and have demonstrated no interest in a solution.
Zzzzzzzz
You would have to first have some science
Zzzzzzzz
While your points are not 100% valid, they have a fair measure of validity. They are not however reasons to denigrate this effort.
MR166
MR166
Negotiate, compromise, not a chance. Just look at the actions of Nancy Pelosi, nuff said!!!
TheGhostofOtto1923
Plato in his Republic described the only stable form of govt - one that was controlled and manipulated by a hidden elite. Which explains both why soviet communism collapsed when it did, as if on cue, and why western democracies havent.
"Democracy is based on the assumption that a million men
are wiser than one man. How's that again? I missed something.
"Autocracy is based on the assumption that one man is wiser
than a million men. Let's play that over again too. Who
decides?" Lazarus Long
cantdrive85
Obviously the morons are confused that the bimbo's plan is communistic and that they realize how moronic the bimbo barista's plan is they have to lie about it.
https://www.foxne...-to-work