I am a member of the Green New Deal Group, which now published its fifth anniversary edition – a National Plan for the UK. The first report was published in July, 2008, before the collapse of Lehman’s and was (in our humble view) far-sighted in its analysis and recommendations.
The purpose of this report is to advance a much-needed debate about how to move the UK out of the counterproductive politics of austerity and into the age of the Green New Deal. This is a matter of utmost urgency. If it isn’t introduced rapidly, we are likely to enter another economic slump. A Green New Deal could be implemented now if the political will existed. It calls initially for a £50 billion a year investment programme to boost economic activity, in a way which provides jobs on a living wage in every community in the UK, while reducing our ecological impact.