During the first presidential debate on September 29th 2020, both presidential nominees, Joe Biden and Donald Trump, opposed the Green New Deal. When asked by Chris Wallace during the first presidential debate, Biden said that “he did not support the Green New Deal, though his environmental plan on his website calls it a crucial framework for fighting climate change” (NYPost). Biden, in fact, replied saying he supported the. Biden Plan that he claims to be different than the “radical Green New Deal”.
Moreover, Trump made it clear that he did not approve of the Green New Deal and still denies that climate change is a problem. As a result, he would come back on the point on how moving forward with green policies will be a major factor on the country’s economy. He mentioned recently how proceeding with the Green New Deal will turn the US into a ninth world country. Trump believes that the deal was devised by not smart people, subtly referring to New York Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and Massachussets Sen. Ed Markey. It was clear on what stance both presidential nominees stand for moving forward with green Policies.
What is the Green New Deal?
Proposed by New York Rep. Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Markey, the Green New Deal (GND) aims “to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to avoid the worst consequences of climate change while also trying to fix societal problems like economic inequality and racial injustice” (NYTimes).
The resolutions were influenced when the United Nations, along with federal scientists, stated that if the global temperature did not start decreasing, it would lead to more heatwaves, droughts, etc. It will also impact the US economy, losing more than $500,000,000,000 by 2100.
The Green New Deal is also looking to tackle societal problems. It plans on promoting justice and equity. It wants to tackle discrimination and economic inequality. Supporters of the GND believe that there needs to be a “new national, social, industrial, and economic mobilization” (H. RES. 109).
Howie Hawkins Response
Presidential nominee Howie Hawkins is the only Green Party candidate in the race. He was the first candidate in the country to campaign for the GND while running for governor of New York in 2010. Recently, when Joe Biden opposed the GND in the presidential debate, Hawkins tweeted:
Like Jo Jorgensen, Hawkins did not qualify for 2020 presidential debates. However, it did not stop Hawkins from criticizing the first debate during an interview session with KUTV. Throughout the interview, Hawkins talked about his progressive plans for the country and the benefits of his policies that he wants to imply if elected. He wants people to vote for what they believe in and not against a party they dislike.
Sources: https://nypost.com/2020/10/08/trump-says-green-new-deal-will-make-us-a-ninth-world-country/
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/21/climate/green-new-deal-questions-answers.html
https://kutv.com/news/beyond-the-podium/know-your-candidate/interview-howie-hawkins-green-party-candidate-for-president
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-resolution/109/text