Build Back Better - The Green New Deal - What is it and what will it do?

By Fran Southgate

Living Landscape Adviser

Shortly before the Covid crisis, a fantastic document called the Green New Deal was launched, setting out ambitious targets for UK Government to reduce climate emissions, restore nature, reduce inequality and increase community well-being on a year-on-year basis.

Since then, the coronavirus has turned the world upside down, exposing the weak links between our environmental planning, its contradictions with the push for continued economic growth, and its lack of reference to social wellbeing. As Britain teeters out of the Covid crisis, a 350-strong coalition of civil society leaders launched a campaign this week for the Government to #BuildBackBetter from Covid. Despite the announcements this week, Government policies for doing so fall hugely short of the urgent needs we have as a society.

In short, Build Back Better is a New Economic Strategy Bill, setting out how Government can work with the private sector to de-carbonise, and mobilise finances big enough to invest in the positive transformation of our economy and society. The Green New Deal Bill also shows how people and democracy can be put back in control of the economy, so that we can all transform our society and economy to respond to the climate, nature and inequality crises. The framework it uses is a much needed challenge to the status quo, to create a shockproof economy that is capable of enduring the climate crisis. 

The Build Back Better Campaign asks for the Government to work on key principles. It asks for investment in reversing environmental degradation, protecting the natural environment because it supports our lives and livelihoods, and opening-up markets to opportunities for change, allowing us to invest in renewable energy, clean transport, climate-friendly farming and warm homes whilst creating skilled, well-paid jobs.

The Green New Deal asks the Government to ensure that both our monetary and fiscal systems work for society, ethically investing in activities that prevent the breakdown of earth’s life support systems, instead of breaking ecological limits for profit. New objectives have been set for business – and where they are currently obliged to maximise returns to shareholders, the Green New Deal asks that they now take account of other stakeholders – including local people whose lives they impact - and the impact of their activities on the climate.

The Green new deal sets out how economic resources can be made available, the results of which will be a better, more dynamic, employment rich and low carbon UK economy. It is an extraordinary challenge, by a huge number of stakeholders, demanding positive change from the current state of affairs. We are poised on a knife edge, waiting with bated breath, to see if we are strong enough as a society to stand up for the changes we truly need to protect people and planet.