The Green New Deal Framework: Policy for Land and Environmental Justice

The climate crisis disproportionately affects marginalized communities, often tied to historic inequities in land use and resource access. This course provides a foundational understanding of how modern climate policy frameworks, such as the Green New Deal, are designed to integrate environmental sustainability with social and land justice goals. You will learn to analyze policy proposals through an equity lens and recognize effective strategies for community-led planning and remediation. ### What you'll learn * Understand the historical roots of environmental and land injustice and their connection to modern climate policy challenges. * Analyze the core components of the Green New Deal framework related to infrastructure, jobs, and equitable resource allocation. * Apply an equity lens to evaluate proposed climate solutions, focusing on community benefits and preventing displacement. * Learn principles of climate resilience planning and how to ensure new clean energy infrastructure is sited fairly. * Practice identifying policy levers that promote land stewardship and support community-based planning initiatives. ### Course Content Overview The course begins by defining key terminology and examining the foundations of environmental justice and equitable land use. We then move into a detailed analysis of policy proposals, focusing on practical implementation strategies for equitable urban planning and resource distribution. ### Who this course is for This course is designed for beginners interested in environmental policy, urban planning, social justice advocacy, or climate action. No prior knowledge of policy or law is required. Start reading today and contribute to building a more just and sustainable future.