If Democrats Want a 'Green New Deal,' These Congressional Investigations Need to Happen

A startling new report on climate change from the Trump administration makes clear that if the U.S. government and other major polluters don't do more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the resulting climate impacts will be dramatic and costly, both to the U.S. economy and the long-term livability of the planet.  However, with the Democrats holding a clear majority in the House of Representatives, a huge opportunity lies in the investigative powers of the committees they will now lead (here’s a quick summary of Congressional investigative powers). Looking forward and developing aggressive clean energy policies to aid the rapid deconstruction of the fossil fuel industry should be only part of the strategy for Democrats. They must also investigate and bring to justice the corruption that has proliferated in the Trump administration and effectively stalled climate action. The Democrats must also look back and understand how and why the world is in such a time of urgency when it comes to climate change, despite scientists having rung the alarm bells for decades. As the oft-quoted Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu warned, you need to know both yourself and the enemy in order to win in battle. Here are some key climate and environmental controversies of the Trump administration that House Democrats should investigate if they want to see their Green New Deal succeed:..MORE