The Green New Deal in the COVID-19 Era

New South Wales is free of bushfires for the first time since it started more than 240 days ago.

Despite the fires dwindling to ashes, Australia and the world isn’t prepared for another environmental catastrophe.

With the burning of the bushfires at its height, it could’ve sidelined the Australian Open, a major tennis tournament held on the continent every January.

Due to the poor air quality caused by the fires continuously burning, it prompted some athletes to drop out of the tournament entirely, and for the tournament to create an air quality policy for how matches would be conducted.

Passing aggressive environmental policy such as the Green New Deal is imperative whether it be in parts, or as one piece of legislation.

Australia has an environmental policy in place, which is the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act of 1999, and according to the continent’s website the policy contains guidelines on bushfire management.

“Fire prevention activities only need federal environmental approval if: they are likely to have a significant impact on a nationally protected matter, and they are not specifically exempted by the national environmental law,” states the continent’s environmental agency website.

Not surprising, the law gives the responsibility to the state and territory in the maintenance of the environment. This falls incredibly short and is lacking in an attempt to combat climate change. Even in 1999, the dawn of a new millenium, this law needed to be broader and has to provide solutions that are doable.

By failing to specifically address fire prevention, the impact of the bushfires were critical and the United Nations noted some of the damage can be seen in the physical with 5,900 buildings and 2,800 homes destroyed.

Large amounts of fatalities to humans and the varied animal species, and the biodiversity suffering greatly with the loss of habitats and food sources that are vital for animals and humans.

Australia’s public health took a shot as well. With the fires producing smoke and air pollution that affects the respiratory system.

In a recent study published in the Medical Journal of Australia, the smoke killed 12.6 times more people than the actual fire itself.

There is weak legislation that doesn't provide solutions to the world wide problems that are causing global warming, food scarcity, rise in energy consumption, and a lack of adequate public transportation that is accessible for everyone.

Compared to Australia, the United States current legislation is the Clean Air Act of 1970, Clean Water Act of 1972, and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 etc, which were designed to protect the quality of water and air, and to protect the assurance of dwindling animal species.They’re important, but doesn’t go far enough.

These are just merely a set of guidelines that can be overstepped, and don't have the ability to take care of the everyday needs which is the main problem to solve, and makes the passing of the Green New Deal necessary.

The Hill reported last November that a phase of the Green New Deal called The Green New Deal for Public Housing was unveiled where it would take $180 billion to repair public housing with the goal of taking carbon emissions down to zero.

Yes, even now a year later, as our nation is grappling with a pandemic that is infecting thousands at such an alarming rate that is causing a public health crisis, the health of our environment needs to be a priority.

This is an ambitious legislation, as it should be. It’s straightforward, broad, and inclusive, and can be broken down and be used as a model to create other forms of aggressive policy.

It addresses major problems, and gives solutions to the rise of greenhouse gases by capping them, our failing infrastructure by actually rebuilding it, and the nonexistence of quality public transportation.

The resolution has the ability to address things that are systemic, with the real capacity to change lives, and provide a blueprint on how the government should work for the people. Sources: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hres109/BILLS-116hres109ih.pdf https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/laws-and-executive-orders https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/470432-lawmakers-unveil-green-new-deal-for-housing-bill https://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/publications/factsheet-bushfire-management-and-national-environment-law https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/smoke-from-australias-bushfires-killed-hundreds1/ https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/28501172/australian-open-explains-air-quality-policy-referees-stop-matches https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/ten-impacts-australian-bushfires