• Green Finance

The European Union Moving Forward on a “Green Deal”

• Environmental Justice
• Green Deal
• Green New Deal
• pollution

Last week, as the UN Climate Meeting lurched and sputtered, the European Commission’s president, Ursula von der Leyen of Germany,  proposed the European “Green Deal” — a blueprint for how Europe will cut their carbon emissions in half by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, aiming to be a first-mover on creating climate-friendly industries and building clean technologies.  

Why This Matters:  Countries that seize the moment to transition to a fossil-fuel-free economy will win this century, and those that do not will be left behind.

• Green Finance

One of the Largest Banks in the World Will Stop Fossil Fuel Lending in by 2022

• climate change
• European Investment Bank
• fossil fuels
• Green New Deal

The European Investment Bank (EIB) in what some called a “game-changer” announced at the end of last week that it will phase out funding for fossil fuel projects by the end of 2021, dealing a major blow to oil and gas companies.  Instead, according to The Wall Street Journal, the bank will “use €1 trillion ($1.1 trillion) for climate-change action and environmentally sustainable investment by 2030 and help the EU reach 32% renewable energy across the bloc by 2030.”

Why This Matters:  We can think of 1.1 trillion reasons.  And this policy covers ALL fossil fuels including traditional natural gas projects.

• Green Finance

Bernie Sanders and AOC Release a Green New Plan for Public Housing

• AOC
• Bernie Sanders
• Green New Deal
• public housing

Yesterday Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders announced that they plan to introduce the Green New Deal for Public Housing Act, legislation that would give a green overhaul to the entirety of the nation’s 1.2 million public housing units.

• Green Finance

Bernie Sanders Staking His Campaign In Iowa on the GND and Climate Change

• climate change
• Green New Deal
• Iowa caucus

Senator Bernie Sanders is seeking to re-frame his Presidential campaign in Iowa on the issue of climate change with a huge ad buy there touting his support for the Green New Deal (see below) and a climate summit to be held this weekend with Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez attending.

Why This Matters: Climate change has fallen out of the debate since the MSNBC climate forum in mid-September.  Sanders has consistently been in the top 3 candidates in Iowa so his focus on the climate issues will ensure that they are discussed again — and that is good news.

• Green Finance

Republicans See GND As Key To Retaking the House in 2020

• #GreenNewDeal
• Green New Deal
• socialism

Last week, the Republican Members of Congress met at their annual policy conference and emerged from the meeting hoping the Green New Deal (GND) is a major issue in the 2020 election cycle because they think it is a winner for them.  According to E&E News, their leadership is convinced that their best strategy for retaking […]

• Green Finance

Moderate Dems Announce GND Alternative to Reach “100 by 50”

• #GreenNewDeal
• 100 by 50
• climate emergency
• Green New Deal
• Greta Thunberg

On Tuesday, moderate Democrats in the House of Representatives, led by Congressman Frank Pallone of New Jersey, announced at a press conference that they will develop a “concrete” new climate proposal as an alternative to the Green New Deal, with a goal of achieving 100 percent clean energy by 2050.  While it is not clear what will be in the “concrete” proposal, the lawmakers promised to consult with stakeholders in developing it, and it is less ambitious than the Green New Deal, which sets a goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2030.  The Green New Deal already has garnered 94 supporters in the House and has the support of all the leading Democratic candidates for President.