As a native New Yorker, witnessing the odd weather and fluctuating temperatures, the highest so far being 61 degrees Celsius and the lowest being 3 degrees Celsius, I’m bewildered by the confusing changes we have seen between winter and spring. And as summer approaches in June, many New Yorkers may have to prepare for alarming, heat-stricken weather.
Human activity (which includes energy production, agriculture, transportation and many other factors) has contributed to dangerously high, unprecedented levelss of carbon dioxide and other gases in our atmosphere.
The trapping of carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere is responsible for 91 percent of global warming within the past five years, making the hottest years between 2014-2018 the hottest years reccorded so far according to the Global Climate Change’s report, “2018 Fourth Warmest Year in Continued Warming Trend.”
It’s crucial that we take action to limit our own destructive habits. Through the Green New Deal that New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has presented to Congress, we may be able to reach a goal of net-zero gas emissions in the United States.
The Green New Deal consists of a 10-year generated plan for improving the environment by leveraging funding to support community-based projects.
These projects aim to bolster efforts to combat climate-change related disasters, eradicate as much pollution and gas emission as possible, provide clean water universally, make sure Congress-approved bills involving infrastructure are climate-friendly and generally support the development of a clean and healthy environment.
Ocasio-Cortez continues to describe in-depth plans to meet 100 percent of the power demand in America by using clean and zero-emission energy sources.
Some ways to achieve this goal include expanding and improving renewable energy sources and upgrading infrastructure with clean renewable energy sources.
Ocasio-Cortez also addresses the integration of sustainability with transportation, healthcare, poverty and communities that face systematic disadvantages, such as indigenous groups and communities of color.
With such an intensive outline created to meet goals for a better future, with details that target issues not all directly related to climate change, many politicians and members of Congress have voiced their concerns on how this plan may be too expensive to be effective.
A Republican group led by the former congressional budget office director has asserted that Ocasio-Cortez’s plan may require $50 to $100 trillion dollars to execute.
Democratic senator Ed Markey, who supports the plan, has fired back by noting that the expense generated by the effects of climate change in the future would be even more costly for the government to handle.
Despite the notability of the Green New Deal, it will only be considered as a suggestion on fighting climate change to the Select Committee on Climate Crisis.
As Ocasio-Cortez continues to campaign for her proposal to fight climate change, republican politicians continue to speak out and the discussion becomes increasingly heated (no pun intended).
However, as the government continues to find a final resolution in the fight to save the Earth, it’s important for us to raise awareness and advocate for a better climate and sustainable living.
