The former Labour leader Ed Miliband has backed a grassroots campaign in his own party for a Green New Deal.
The Labour for a Green New Deal campaign is calling for a state-led programme that will decarbonise the economy and reduce inequality at the same time.
According to organisers, the programme would include a commitment to zero carbon emissions by 2030, a transition to well-paid green jobs and a public integrated transport system, which would connect the entire country.
Speaking at an event at the House of Commons yesterday (July 22), Mr Miliband said the ‘fundamental insight’ of the Green New Deal programme is ‘not to see the climate crisis and inequality crisis as separate’.
‘Green and red together is the way we tackle the climate emergency, and that is why this is such an important initiative’, added the former Labour leader.
He was joined at the event by Labour’s shadow minister for climate justice and green jobs, Danielle Rowley, and shadow treasury minister for sustainable economics, Clive Lewis.
Mr Lewis said that the Green New cannot just be about ‘tinkering’ and instead called for ’emergency socialism’, which he described as a ‘whole new political economy’.
He also urged for the UK to show international leadership as one of the first countries to industrialise, adding that trade and foreign policy ‘need to be part of the Green New Deal’.
‘Our action on climate change must be inclusive,’ said Ms Rowley, who also commended ‘fantastic grassroots campaigns’ like Labour for a Green New Deal for recognising that climate change is a class issue.
Lauren Townsend, a trade unionist, councillor and Labour for a Green New Deal spokesperson, said: ‘As has been evidenced from the climate justice school strikes we’ve seen up and down the country, there is an entire generation of young people growing up now who are already politically engaged, who know what they want their futures to look like and who aren’t afraid to stand up and speak out.
‘These young people need to know that the Labour Party has their backs and their best interests at heart.’
Photo Credit – Labour for a Green New Deal Campaign