Jeremy Brecher, "The Green New Deal from Below: How Ordinary People Are Building a Just and Climate-Safe Economy" (U Illinois Press, 2024)
Dec 10, 2024
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Jeremy Brecher, a historian and lifelong activist, discusses his book, "The Green New Deal from Below." He highlights the significance of grassroots movements driving climate action alongside social justice. Brecher delves into local initiatives like Boston's Green New Deal, showcasing how communities are creating equitable projects. He emphasizes the need to integrate social justice into climate policies, countering public opposition. Inspiring case studies, like a Native American co-op and innovative partnerships in mining, illustrate ordinary people's impact on sustainable practices.
Grassroots initiatives in cities like Boston showcase how local governance can effectively integrate climate action with social justice and job creation.
Illinois illustrates the importance of involving labor rights and community needs in climate legislation, ensuring a just transition for workers and environmental sustainability.
Deep dives
Innovative Solutions in Urban Governance
Cities across the United States are implementing innovative strategies to address climate change while promoting economic and social justice. An illustrative example is Boston's Green New Deal, spearheaded by Mayor Wu, which includes the creation of a youth climate corps dedicated to training young people, particularly from marginalized backgrounds, for jobs in climate-related sectors. The initiative also involves the electrification of public transportation and a reorganization of urban planning to ensure affordable housing and prevent displacement of low-income communities. By fostering cooperation between environmental groups and community organizations, Boston demonstrates the potential for local governance to drive significant climate action.
Successful State-Level Climate Legislation
Illinois has emerged as a leader in state-level climate legislation by integrating labor rights and community needs into its Green New Deal approach. A grassroots campaign galvanized support from poor and frontline communities and led to a comprehensive climate bill that balances environmental goals with job creation and worker protection. This legislation not only mandates a shift to 100% clean energy but also includes provisions to safeguard jobs in sectors affected by this transition. By incorporating the voices and needs of both labor and communities of color, Illinois sets a precedent for how states can effectively tackle climate change while ensuring a just transition for workers.
Local Communities and Their Role in Renewable Energy
Local communities, including Native American populations, are actively shaping the future of renewable energy through innovative initiatives. For instance, the Shinnecock Nation's seaweed harvesting cooperative not only addresses carbon emissions but also enhances local food production and replaces harmful fertilizers with sustainable alternatives. Additionally, there are positive collaborations between historically fossil fuel-dependent labor unions, like the United Mine Workers, and emerging industries, such as battery production for renewable energy. These examples illustrate that communities can lead the way in fostering economically viable models that prioritize environmental sustainability and social equity.
Its core principle is to use the necessity for climate protection as a basis for realizing full employment and social justice. Jeremy Brecher goes beyond the national headlines and introduces readers to the community, municipal, county, state, tribal, and industry efforts advancing the Green New Deal across the United States. Brecher illustrates how such programs from below do the valuable work of building constituencies and providing proofs of concept for new ideas and initiatives. Block by block, these activities have come together to form a Green New Deal built on a strong foundation of small-scale movements and grassroots energy. A call for hope and a better tomorrow, The Green New Deal from Below offers a blueprint for reconstructing society on new principles to avoid catastrophic climate change.