Hi,

This week, for what our world will look and feel like when we win a Green New Deal and create the transformational change that scientists say is necessary to address the climate emergency.

In the member contribution section, there was some concern that a vision like this is inherently undemocratic. I couldn’t disagree more.

According to taking bold action on climate change is one of the top concerns in almost every country on Earth. In many places, it is the top concern. For at least a decade, the climate movement has been one of It’s clear: people want their governments to do more. People want their voices to be heard. That is the definition of democracy.

And of course, democracy isn’t only about polls, elections and peaceful protest. When democracy is at its best, it’s a system that works for everyone, by design. It’s the knowledge that you have a system of government that is led by the people themselves, which employs thousands of people to build a society we can be proud of. It’s about trusting your representatives to truly listen to you, and not the tiny sliver of humanity that’s fabulously wealthy. It’s about a justice system that stands up for fundamental rights. It’s about feeling as though you’re a part of something that’s bigger than yourself.

That’s the feeling I tried to foster in my outlook of what could happen this decade if we listen to the scientists and, more importantly, listen to the voices of citizens calling for change.

For 2020, this is what you’ll be getting from me at The Correspondent: a commitment to justice, community building, and the celebration of a visionary future worth fighting for.

Up next: I’m putting together a guide on what to consider when voting for climate candidates, and I’ll have some recommendations specifically focused on the US elections.

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