The Green New Deal and The Presidential Election

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Ed Markey released a Green New Deal outline Thursday, alleging the " massive policy package " would remake the U.S. economy and eliminate all U.S. carbon emissions.

Among the array of issues the plan hopes to fix, the list of who signed on to the deal was quite notable. Most of the major Democratic presidential candidates in the race so far displayed their names proudly.

While the cost of the Green New Deal has yet to be worked out, the candidates have pledged their loyalty to the message and marked a moment on the political debate over climate change.

“Every signal appears to be that the Green New Deal is going to be a major part of the presidential election,” Anthony Leiserowitz, director of the Yale University Program on Climate Change Communication, told the LA Times . “This is in no small part because the larger political dynamics have shifted on climate change.”

The deal calls for a transition to 100% renewable energy by 2030. Also the guarantee of a living-wage job with paid vacation to every American.

A Yale and George Mason University poll found 81% of registered voters supported the idea of a Green New Deal, including two-thirds of Republicans.

The LA Times also reports polling shows that among engaged Democratic primary voters, "climate has moved into the top tier of concerns."

Indeed, the response from voters on climate issues could quite possibly be influencing the 2020 presidential race.

Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Kamala Harris of California and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee are all preparing a possible presidential bid that would focus almost entirely on climate issues.

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