Democrats Distance Themselves From ‘Green New Deal’ After Promoting Ambitious Plan For Years

Shift in Democrats’ Climate Agenda

A recent report from Axios indicates that Democrats have significantly reduced their use of the term “Green New Deal,” a phrase they championed fervently just a few years back. In fact, Congressional Democrats have only referred to it six times in the past three months, marking the lowest frequency since its popularity surged in late 2018, according to tracking software data.

While some state-level Democrats are still pursuing strict climate goals, the overall enthusiasm appears to be waning. This change comes as former President Donald Trump emphasizes his campaign pledge to dismantle the Biden-era Green Energy Initiative, leading to a broader retreat from the ambitious policies Democrats once strongly supported.

“When we first introduced the Green New Deal, we were told our vision was too ambitious,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez during a reintroduction of the initiative alongside Senator Ed Markey in 2023. “Four years later, the central tenet is reflected in the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest federal investment in climate change. But there’s still much more to do to place environmental justice at the core of our climate policy.”

Despite this, Ocasio-Cortez and Markey reintroduced the legislation in 2023, but it has yet to gain traction this session. President Biden’s 2022 Inflation Reduction Act included various green energy subsidies akin to those in the Green New Deal, yet some Democrats feel that the bill hasn’t sufficiently addressed climate challenges.

In 2020, many Congressional Democrats rallied behind the Green New Deal, and the call for a national climate emergency gained traction as well. Yet, figures like Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia have consistently opposed major climate legislation, despite pressure from their peers.

Recent polls show that a majority of Americans are not particularly focused on climate change, prompting some Democrats to acknowledge a mismatch with the public sentiment. In June, statements from within the party suggested a need to rebrand their climate messaging. A 2023 Pew Research poll further revealed that many Americans are hesitant about completely moving away from fossil fuels, placing more importance on economic and healthcare issues.

Trump has vowed to address loopholes in Biden’s IRA, which had previously prioritized wind energy and environmental justice initiatives, but his administration has since dialed back on those efforts.

During the same period that Democrats have largely shied away from the term, Republicans have been vocal about the Green New Deal, mentioning it 337 times as Trump continues to target initiatives from the Biden era. Congressional Republicans are also looking to repeal the IRA Green Energy Tax Credit.

“We’re at a critical juncture regarding climate, but right now, it feels like a downward trend,” noted Steve Milroy from the Energy and Environmental Law Institute. “The so-called climate change enthusiasts might take a step back for a while, but they will return. This is a significant issue for them.”