The Green New Deal: Putting the climate at the heart of global policy

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Climate scientists agree that our love affair with fossil fuels is the root cause of our steadily warming planet. The evidence suggests we’re already witnessing the effects of a climate catastrophe - but what if there was an economically viable way to abandon fossil fuels and fully transition to renewables? We speak to author and economist Jeremy Rifkin about his latest book "The Green New Deal: Why the Fossil Fuel Civilization Will Collapse by 2028, and the Bold Economic Plan to Save Life on Earth".

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[channel_channel]

The U.N in 1989 told us we had until the year 2000 to sort out CO2. These clowns don't believe their own "science".

[TylerCrowl]

Yea. Wonderful idea as long as it doesn’t come at the expense of freedom of the working class person. Like the gist of the concept is still sound. Even though it was twisted by malevolent individuals who have ulterior motives who lose sight of the real goal. Harmony with nature. We’re a series of smart cultures that can adapt. I believe it. But it has to be a top down approach from governments who need to encourage companies to change. Not force it upon the lay person to wage slave harder into buying more eco friendly item and things. Shoot. I would love to but I make 33, 000 a year. I barely make ends meet while trying to live a healthy lifestyle. Then add eating with a focus on reducing my environmental impact...It’s simply not possible. So it must come from the top down. In the US 70% of people live paycheck to paycheck. Those people can’t afford to live at this new great green new deal standard. At least not yet. And we can’t completely demonize fossil fuels. They just need to have less of a factor in climate. But have changed this earth. It was inevitable. It’s the way life works. Instead we must learn to live in a better harmony moving forward. Help the animals interact with the society we have built for ourselves. And do what we can. But you can’t do so at the expense of the pockets of the lower class individual. I’m okay with a green new deal. But if you try to do so on the dime of the lower class you will fail at the expense of possibly the stability of the society you aim to change. That’s my 2 cents. I wish everyone a wonderful day thanks for reading this small rant lol

[rickicoughlan]

We can either be smart about what's coming and face the realities and find value in the changes ahead or we can cling to ideologies which are losing relevance and make change to difficult and go under. I don't see concepts like "capitalism" and "socialism" being relevant in the near future. Information and arts and an increasingly shared economy are all being democratised by the internet. Energy is becoming democratised by co-ops and individuals participating in energy capture and feed into the grid. Transport, the way we all work and our political power structures will be next. This will ultimately bring the best of socialism and capitalism together and increase democracy. We're changing and it's time for the people we elect to manage things to see this, stand up and take the lead. We need governments to get on board and facilitate this new direction. We really don't have any other choice.

[Graham]

He sounds like John the Baptist. The world will end unless you do exactly what I say.

[toyotaprius]

You gotta love the American backlashers in the comments, they're like a barometer that tells us people where the right direction is in an ever changing world.