Time is running out! On May 6, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt took a groundbreaking step by establishing the Works Progress Administration (WPA) with executive order 7034. The WPA was monumental, employing approximately 8.5 million Americans to construct vital infrastructure like schools, hospitals, and roads, while also championing the arts for African Americans. We find ourselves at a pivotal moment where the spirit and ambition of the WPA are needed more than ever to combat today’s existential crisis: climate change.
The call for a Green New Deal, first voiced by European Greens in 2006 amidst a global financial meltdown, has never been more critical. This isn’t just about climate action; it’s a comprehensive blueprint for a sustainable future, touching on economic rights and the democratization of our financial systems. The urgency was recognized in New York State by Howie Hawkins in 2010, and the message has only grown stronger and more widespread across the United States.
The stakes have skyrocketed. As political forces play a dangerous game of brinkmanship, edging us closer to global conflict, the devastating impacts of climate change are accelerating. Wars over dwindling resources like food, water, and land are no longer speculative scenarios—they are looming realities.
The Green New Deal offers a lifeline. It proposes a seismic shift in our priorities—from the dead ends of fossil fuels to the boundless potential of wind, solar, geothermal, wave, and tidal power. It’s about investing in sustainable, non-toxic materials, revolutionizing agriculture, and fostering a circular economy that cuts waste and pollution.
But it’s also about jobs—millions of them. Jobs in renewable energy, clean transportation, sustainable agriculture, and green manufacturing. Jobs that offer dignity and a decent wage, extending beyond construction to encompass public services and the non-profit sector. We’re talking about a modern-day WPA that ensures everyone willing to work can find meaningful employment in building a sustainable future.
The time for debate has passed. The moment to act is now. We need a Green New Deal to steer us away from the brink of environmental catastrophe and toward a just, sustainable world for all. Let’s honor the legacy of the WPA by demanding bold action before it’s too late. Our future depends on it.