Climate activists debate whether Green New Deal messaging has outlived its usefulness
President Trump's second term has seen a surge in executive actions targeting environmental policies, notably the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which he equates with the Green New Deal. This conflation has prompted climate activists to reassess their strategies and messaging.
Frida Garza and Kate Yoder report for Grist.
In short:
- Trump's administration has halted funding for the IRA, mislabeling it as the Green New Deal, despite the latter never becoming law.
- Climate advocates are debating the effectiveness of the Green New Deal branding, considering new approaches to appeal to a broader audience.
- Some propose expanding their agenda to address interconnected social and economic issues under a "Green Reconstruction" framework.
Key quote:
“Republicans continue to bring it [the Green New Deal] up as a prop to scare voters, because it’s not popular with voters.”
— Josh Freed, senior vice president for climate and energy at Third Way
Why this matters:
It's important to consider how climate narratives are shaped and the impact they have on public perception and policy support. Effective communication that points to how climate action can preserve individual freedoms while promoting a healthier environment can help find common ground and advance climate solutions.
Read more: Finding climate solutions in communities instead of labs
