In this event, we discussed what carbon tax is, how it works, and what its limitations are. As well as how The Green Party policies to help our economy shift from a consumption-led economy to an investment lead economy.
While many political parties have adopted our Green New Deal (originated by Caroline Lucas and co) and created their own version, the Green Party’s Green New Deal differs in many ways. Especially when it comes to financing the Just Transition and the co-benefits our policies create. Cascading change through other facets of society which are currently causing people and the planet harm.
For example, as Martin Farley points out, the reason the Green Party’s Green New Deal has 4x more investment than the Labour Party’s Green New Deal is because the Green Party is not just interested in investing in new industrial processes. Our policies look at every aspect of the economy where carbon is emitted, and of course, work to transform them to carbon-negative. But in addition to reducing the overpopulation of carbon in the atmosphere (which causes global heating), we’re working to move away from a consumption-led economy and towards an economy that invests in a healthier planet and the overall wellbeing of those who dwell here.
The single biggest outlay in the Green New Deal is for retrofitting homes, and that isn’t just about reducing global heating and preventing climate breakdown; it also contributes to better health, lower household bills and all-around better quality of life. The other housing and urban policies that we include in our Green New Deal will also deliver greater housing security, efficient use of housing and land, clean air, good transport, and more. It’s not just about how much money we are spending, but how we reshape the economy and support people’s real needs. Our zero-carbon approach works because it also improves many other aspects of people’s lives
Because no policy is an island, all policies impact emissions, equality and jobs, and none of our policies work alone. They connect to create a web of change. One that devolves power to communities, enhances the lives and rights of all living things, and bring justice and equity to both people and the planet.
SOME FAQ FROM THE EVENT
What is Carbon Tax?
Carbon tax is one of our greatest leverage points, to drive change throughout society Green Party policies combine a carbon tax and dividend with publicity campaigns and possible carbon rationing. For instance, it should require all adverts for high carbon products, including food, to carry an ‘environmental health warning’. The carbon tax would reflect all emissions of greenhouse gases, not just CO2. It should have a progressive element to deter high individual emitters.
HOW CAN YOU HELP CREATE GREEN PARTY POLICY?
- JOIN THE GREEN PARTY as a Member
- COME TO CONFERENCE and help shape our policies our next conference (Green Party members only) is in October 2021
- JOIN A POLICY WORKING GROUP you must be a Green Party member to join any of the groups, and sign in as a member to access this URL: https://members.greenparty.org.uk/policy-working-groups
- SIGN THE PETITON Caroline Lucas has a petition for the Wellbeing Economy and it needs 100k signatures to be considered for debate in parliament – please sign and share the petition to ensure the economy we create post-pandemic is one that protects both people and planet. SIGN HERE
