A Green New Deal

In 2008 a group proposed a Green New Deal to tackle many of the serious issues facing the UK. Since then the climate emergency has got worse, inequality in the UK continues to be a major source of poverty, energy costs are becoming unaffordable for many, much of the housing stock requires better insulation, too many jobs offer poor wages etc. And still no government has taken the GND seriously.

The Report can be read here: https://neweconomics.org/uploads/files/8f737ea195fe56db2f_xbm6ihwb1.pdf

A GND for Scotland was proposed by Prof. Richard Murphy, a member of the GND Group, and his video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo5LStvCOS8

Or in print: https://sourcenews.scot/long-read-richard-murphy-on-a-green-new-deal-for-scotland/

Why the contribution is important

Climate Emergency, Energy Emergency and escalating cost of living crisis. There are already too many people living in poverty, having to choose between eating and heating, and there are going to be many more joining them. It’s time for government action.

But a GND isn’t just about insulating housing or building more wind turbines; it’s also about tackling the financialisation of the economy, reining in the rentier class and redistributing wealth downwards instead of upwards as has happened since the Great Financial Crash in spades, thanks to QE.

by Geejay on August 25, 2022 at 09:21PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.8
Based on: 16 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Tony August 26, 2022 at 09:26

    I'm not giving support to the scheme outlined in the documents but would agree that it forms a basis for discussion.

    My reasoning is that there's quite a big section on renewing the financial sector which I think is out of scope of this consultation. Perhaps this is needed as part of a just transition.

  • Posted by AlasdairPhilips August 27, 2022 at 14:02

    I support Tony's comment - multi-national companies aiming (as is necessary under the current capitalist system) to maximise profits for their shareholders. I am not anti-capitalist, but these mega-sized companies and the super rich rule the world - not Governments. National Governments need to stand up to their pressures in order to better support their populations. 5-year election periods are a problem as many politicians base their decision around populist (but not sustainable) opinion. We need 25 years+ thinking behind most major opinions.

  • Posted by BrookeLaba September 03, 2022 at 11:01

    I support Common Weals GND https://commonweal.scot/big-ideas/a-real-green-new-deal-for-scotland/

  • Posted by carolynburch September 04, 2022 at 10:45

    Green New Deal is a good example of clear future-based long term thinking of the kind that governments naturally find hard to do with elections always looming. I would love to see cross-party consideration of the GND - our problems are bigger than party differences now.

  • Posted by CalumM_ScotGov September 05, 2022 at 11:39

    Hi all, thanks for your contributions so far. This is a comment we have received from a member of the public who is struggling with the IT on this platform. I think this is probably the best place to place it.

    " Our country is needing to transition to green energy. This is a good thing. But it needs to use all means available including oil and gas to achieve this, and it needs all the money which has been kept back for a supposed Independence vote to support the poor and ill through this transition. Fuel poverty will affect mid to low incomes the most and to achieve the transition, gas storage needs to be built, rather than burned off which is what happens at the moment. It is infrastructure that is needed to prevent climate change. Things like desalination Units. Only oil and gas generate enough to pay for this. And it would help the poor, old and infirm through the winter."

  • Posted by francesmguy September 11, 2022 at 15:14

    agree that both Richard Murphy's views and those of Common Weal should form the basis for a fundamental discussion about what is meant by a Green New Deal, with an understanding that a green new deal needs to recognise the historic injustices incorporated into the current system, including legacy carbon footprints dating back to the industrial revolution as well as issues around current global climate exploitation which mean that the poorest communities in the world are exploited by the biggest polluters with no compensation or acknowledgement. Any just transition needs to be just for the world's poorest as well as the poorest in Scotland and the government can play an important role in recognising this and taking action to ensure climate justice.
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