THE GREEN PARTY'S GREEN NEW DEAL

He Ara Anamata, the Green Party's new Emissions Reduction Plan, represents a rejection of what Green co-leader Chloe Swarbrick has described as 'economic fundamentalism'.

 

WHILE HE Ara Anamata might be the Green Party's 'Alternative Emissions Reduction Plan', to get to its emission targets the Green Party is also proposing a radical shake-up of the economy. While both major parties seem terminally tied to the neoliberal orthodoxy, He Ara Anamata represents a fundamental rejection of what Green Party co-leader Chloe Swarbrick has described as 'economic fundamentalism'. 

At the press conference on Sunday, Swarbrick took another swipe at a failed economic status quo: 'Anthropogenic climate change has been created by an unsustainable, insatiable economic system. It didn't just happen. It's not natural. In fact, it's actively destroying mature. That can and must change. Unfortunately, Christopher Luxon's 'plan' resembles more of a shredder, relying on market mechanisms that will cost the poorest New Zealanders as much as the wealthiest - according to the Government's own advice.'

He Ara Anamata could well be described as the Green Party's Green New Deal for New Zealand.

It's been a long time coming. Too long, in fact. But under previous co-leader James Shaw, the Green Party was tied to the ludicrous and fantastical agenda of an environmentally friendly capitalism. However, with the corporate-friendly Shaw gone, Chloe Swarbrick has effectively announced that the days of the Green Party playing footsy with the business sector are over.

While James Shaw believed that a 'green capitalism' was possible via some suitable monetary incentives and a little light regulation, Chloe Swarbrick's Green Party says that the State's role isn't merely to hold the hand of business. Indeed, the Green Party says that the State should be the central actor.

He Ara Anamata is premised on the belief that the State must use its unique ability to control our collective resources to constrain polluting activities while investing in the decarbonisation of our public infrastructure.

In stark contrast to the present push for further cuts in state spending, reductions in regulation and the erosion of workers' rights, the Green Party are putting forward the case for democratic public planning. Against the background of a seemingly intractable economic crisis and the catastrophic consequences of climate change, it is time, says Chloe Swarbrick, for the State to reassert itself.

So, in policy terms, the Green Party says it would establish a Ministry for Green Works in order to create thousands of environmentally sustainable jobs. It's part of its 'Green Jobs Guarantee'.

It also says it would invest in new renewable energy infrastructure. And the Green Party would investigate putting Meridian Energy, Genesis Energy and Mercury Energy back into public ownership. They were, of course, partly sold off under the previous National Government. The aim is to create an energy network that operates in the interest of the public good rather than lining the pockets of private shareholders.

The Green Party says that He Ara Anamata would reduce carbon emissions more than five times the Government's draft Emissions Reduction Plan by 2030.  That's the headline, the selling point. But He Ara Anamata is also saying that even as climate disruption is already making its presence felt, we are being told that unleashed market forces can come to our rescue. But while Shane Jones and co might want us to believe otherwise, it's clear that market capitalism cannot avert disaster. It cannot get us out of this mess and the only way to avert a climate breakdown is to undertake a radical reset of our entire economy. This will require significant State action and a vast expansion of public investment. He Ara Anamata represents a significant step in that direction.