A Planet to Win

1. The Green New Deal: A radical approach to combat climate change and inequality

We call our vision a radical Green New Deal to signal the depth and breadth of the change we need.

Urgent action required: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that global carbon emissions must be halved by 2030 to limit warming to 1.5°C. This demands rapid, far-reaching changes across society. The Green New Deal proposes a comprehensive approach that addresses both climate change and social inequalities.

Holistic transformation: The Green New Deal aims to:

• Decarbonize the economy
• Create millions of green jobs
• Invest in clean energy infrastructure
• Provide universal healthcare and education
• Guarantee affordable housing
• Promote environmental justice

Building political power: Achieving these goals requires mass mobilization and grassroots organizing to overcome resistance from entrenched interests. The Green New Deal seeks to create a positive feedback loop between public spending on collective goods and popular support for further action.

2. Dismantling fossil fuel industries and transitioning to public, renewable energy

We don't need fossil fuel companies, and—in the long run—we don't need fossil fuels at all.

Public ownership of energy: The Green New Deal proposes bringing fossil fuel companies and utilities under public control to rapidly phase out carbon-intensive energy sources and accelerate the transition to renewables.

Key strategies include:

• Ending fossil fuel subsidies
• Nationalizing major oil and gas companies
• Converting private utilities to public ownership
• Investing heavily in wind, solar, and other clean energy sources

Just transition: Ensuring workers in fossil fuel industries are not left behind through:

• Job retraining programs
• Guaranteed employment in clean energy sectors
• Protection of pensions and benefits

Accountability: Holding fossil fuel executives responsible for their role in the climate crisis, potentially through legal action for crimes against humanity.

3. Transforming work: Green jobs, labor rights, and reduced working hours

We need to imagine many more such coalitions: bargaining for the common good isn't just for public sector workers.

Green job creation: The Green New Deal calls for a federal job guarantee, providing employment in sectors crucial for decarbonization and social well-being:

• Renewable energy infrastructure
• Building retrofits and energy efficiency
• Ecosystem restoration and conservation
• Care work and education

Strengthening labor rights: Revitalizing the labor movement is essential for implementing the Green New Deal. This includes:

• Facilitating union organizing
• Protecting the right to strike
• Promoting sectoral bargaining

Redefining work: The proposal advocates for reduced working hours and a broader conception of valuable labor, including care work and environmental stewardship. This shift aims to improve quality of life while reducing carbon emissions associated with overproduction and consumption.

4. Reimagining the built environment for sustainability and quality of life

We outline how a radical Green New Deal could build landscapes of no-carbon splendor in and beyond cities.

Sustainable housing: The Green New Deal proposes building 10 million new public housing units over 10 years, designed for energy efficiency and livability. This would address housing affordability while reducing emissions from the residential sector.

Transportation revolution: Transforming mobility through:

• Massive expansion of public transit (buses, trains, light rail)
• Dedicated lanes for electric buses and bicycles
• Shared electric vehicles for last-mile transportation

Public spaces and leisure: Investing in parks, community centers, and recreational facilities to promote low-carbon forms of leisure and improve quality of life.

These changes aim to create dense, walkable communities that reduce energy demand while enhancing social connections and well-being.

5. Addressing global supply chains and international solidarity in the green transition

We stand on the precipice of yet another energy revolution and at a fork in the road: solar-powered capitalism with a whole new set of opportunities for profit and pillage; or an internationalist Green New Deal, a historic opportunity to remake global power structures and our relationship to the natural world.

Ethical resource extraction: The transition to renewable energy requires minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements. The Green New Deal must ensure that extraction doesn't replicate colonial exploitation patterns.

Strategies include:

• Respecting indigenous rights
• Implementing strict environmental standards
• Promoting recycling and reduced consumption to limit demand

Reforming trade policy: Overhauling international trade rules to prioritize labor rights, environmental protection, and technology transfer over corporate profits.

Building global solidarity: Fostering connections between workers and communities across supply chains to resist exploitation and promote just transition globally.

6. Reducing energy demand through public services and collective consumption

To make low-carbon neighborhoods ubiquitous, we would build out nonmarket housing and impose flexible, national rent controls.

Efficiency through public provision: The Green New Deal emphasizes reducing energy demand by shifting from private consumption to public services:

• Free public transportation
• Universal healthcare and education
• Affordable public housing

Smart grid technology: Implementing advanced energy management systems to optimize electricity use and integrate renewable sources efficiently.

Cultural shift: Promoting a move away from consumerism towards shared resources and experiences, reducing the overall material throughput of the economy.

7. Envisioning a future of communal luxury and climate justice

We can be flexible and thoughtful in and beyond urban spaces.

Concrete utopian vision: The Green New Deal presents a tangible vision of a sustainable, equitable future to inspire action and mobilization.

Elements of this vision include:

• Vibrant public spaces and cultural institutions
• Accessible natural areas for recreation and conservation
• Shortened work weeks allowing more time for leisure and personal development
• Democratic control over energy and housing

Just transition: Ensuring that the benefits of decarbonization are shared equitably, with particular attention to frontline communities most affected by climate change and environmental injustice.

Global perspective: Recognizing that climate justice requires international cooperation and solidarity, working towards a world where all people have access to clean energy, healthy environments, and dignified livelihoods.

Last updated: August 20, 2024