Whereas, The Green New Deal (GND) Virginia Coalition proposes to create thousands of good jobs while addressing the climate emergency and restoring Virginia’s environment. The coalition’s collective efforts will redress two of the biggest crises we face: climate change and inequity. These two crises are inextricably joined. As part of a just transition, the coalition is committed to putting justice at the forefront of their efforts. They recognize that a statewide, industrial, economic mobilization of this scope and scale is an historic opportunity to combat inequity in the Commonwealth and to make prosperity, clean air and water, and economic security fully available to everyone participating in this transformation.
Green New Deal Virginia objectives are:
1. A just and equitable 100% renewables plan that leaves no workers or communities behind;
2. Large investments and job-training programs in renewables, building an energy-efficient smart-grid, residential and commercial energy efficiency, and more;
3. Clean air, water, and land for all Virginians;
4. Investments in local-scale agriculture in communities across Virginia; and
5. Prioritizing equitable, affordable and clean transportation systems.
The GND Virginia coalition is comprised of 53 partner organizations and growing that represent diverse constituencies throughout the Commonwealth including: Sunrise Movement, NAACP, Sierra Club, CCAN, Food & Water Watch, Poor People’s Campaign VA, Virginia Interfaith Power & Light, Virginia Organizing, People Demanding Action, Greater Prince William Climate Action, Our Revolution Northern Virginia, 350 Central VA, Clean Fairfax, The Climate Reality Project: Northern VA Chapter, Organic Consumers Association, Citizens Regeneration Lobby, Regeneration International, Mothers Out Front, Enough is Enough, Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions, 350 Fairfax, United Parents Against Lead (UPAL), Interfaith Alliance for Climate Justice, BREDL, Bridging the Gap in Virginia, Network NoVA, Together We Will Henrico, Greenbound RVA , LWCC-Liberal Women of Chesterfield County, Herndon-Reston Indivisible Science and Environment Group, 350 Loudoun, Divest RVA, Commonomics USA, Scale-Sequestering Carbon, Accelerating Local Economies, Ellwood Thompson’s Climate Reality Project: Central & Southern Virginia Chapter, Virginia Democracy Forward, Center for Sustainable Communities, La ColectiVA , Slow Money Central Virginia, The Indivisible Statewide Climate Action Coalition, Community Food Collaborative, UU Church of Roanoke, Together We Will – Richmond, KMLCC, Richmond Food Justice Alliance, Mothers Out Front – Richmond, Virginia Association Biological Farming, Indivisible Roanoke, HRISE, Virginia Clinicians for Climate Action, Citizens Climate Lobby, Global Institute for Sustainable Prosperity, Sustain Floyd (ED AECP), Mother’s Out Front -Hampton Roads, Green Party of Virginia, RISE for Youth, Clean Virginia, Sunrise-Wm and Mary, Sunrise – NoVa, Sunrise – Richmond, Peninsula Indivisible, and Grid Alternatives.
The GND Resolution, HJ724 – Green New Deal; Recognizing the need for a Green New Deal in Virginia which promotes a Just Transition to a clean energy economy through lifting working families, introduced in the Virginia General Assembly January 17, 2019 by Chief Patron Delegate Sam Rasoul was cosponsored by 22 delegates including Hala S. Ayala, Lamont Bagby, John J. Bell, David L. Bulova, Betsy B. Carr, Jennifer Carroll Foy, Lee J. Carter, Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler, Karrie K. Delaney, Elizabeth R. Guzman, Patrick A. Hope, Chris L. Hurst, Mark L. Keam, Kaye Kory, Mark H. Levine, Alfonso H. Lopez, Kenneth R. Plum, Debra H. Rodman, Danica A. Roem, Marcus B. Simon, Luke E. Torian, and Kathy K.L. Tran.
Therefore, be it Resolved, the Democratic Party of Virginia endorses the Green New Deal Virginia and urges our local, state, and federal elected officials to develop and implement projects and legislation to fulfill its objectives.