Progress on all Scales

Green New Deal (GND) work is taking place at all levels, from the Federal GND legislation and GND4Cities, to regional coalitions in Appalachia and the South, to efforts in state legislatures and GND platforms for cities and towns. Each scale of engagement comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages: regional coalitions can rally around shared identities and aggregate resources, but are farther removed from frontline communities; efforts at the state level must reconcile urban and rural priorities but are crucial for freeing up funds and passing progressive legislation; and municipal level efforts benefit from being more nimble and participatory but often lack the funding mechanisms and legal authority to enact GND policies. By synchronizing their efforts and energies for maximum impact, each scale can accelerate progress toward truly transformative change. This section provides resources on the powers and limitations of cities, how municipalities can advocate at the state and national levels, and how regional coalitions can support localized solutions.

City powers are ultimately limited by the willingness of city officials and local residents to advocate for more autonomy from the state. This section includes resources on how communities can advocate up to their state and federal representatives to gain the resources and funds needed to make local GNDs possible.