The primary reason why we face climate catastrophe today is because corporations have had far too much power over the economy and politics. We know that fossil fuel and utility companies — those who stand to lose the most from carbon-cutting policies — have fought to buy off politicians, lobby the hell out of Congress, dissuade the public of climate science, scare voters about electricity prices skyrocketing, and fund climate-denying think tanks. The climate movement hasn’t built the strength to overcome this corporate power, and thus, the US government allows the climate crisis to go on unchecked.

The political strategy behind the Green New Deal (GND) has rightly bound the interest of traditional environmentalists with environmental justice, racial justice, and labor and economic justice interests. The thinking behind GND does so by expanding the policy package from technocratic emissions rules (i.e., old climate policy thinking) to investments in jobs, frontline communities, housing, transit, and more.

This is smart: climate, as its own “issue,” can barely muster a minimally viable coalition to get moderate policy passed (like the market-friendly cap-and-trade bill attempt in 2009). But combined with the interests of other organized groups, alongside voters who may not care much about climate impacts but do want more affordable housing or jobs opportunities, climate justice might just be achievable.