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Difficulty: Medium21st-Century Environmental Challenges and Energy Policy

“Resolved, That it is the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal—to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions through a fair and just transition for all communities and workers; to create millions of good, high-wage jobs and ensure prosperity and economic security for all people of the United States; [and] to invest in the infrastructure and industry of the United States to sustainably meet the challenges of the 21st century...”

—House Resolution 109, 116th Congress, 2019

The goals expressed in the resolution most directly reflect which of the following ongoing debates in United States politics during the early twenty-first century?

  1. The debate over the balance between federal regulatory authority to address climate change and the economic impacts on traditional energy sectorsAnswer
  2. B
    The debate over using supply-side economic strategies, such as tax cuts and deregulation, to incentivize private corporation initiatives for environmental cleanup
  3. C
    The debate over dismantling the social safety net programs established by the Great Society to fund green energy infrastructure
  4. D
    The debate over redirecting defense spending away from containment of non-state actors toward domestic green infrastructure initiatives

Answer

The debate over the balance between federal regulatory authority to address climate change and the economic impacts on traditional energy sectors
The correct answer is correct because the resolution represents a call for active federal government intervention and spending to transition the U.S. economy, which sits at the center of the debate between environmental preservation and economic concerns related to the fossil fuel industry.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus document, which is a 2019 House Resolution calling for a 'Green New Deal' to achieve net-zero emissions and invest in public infrastructure.
The resolution advocates for active federal government intervention, spending, and planning to address 21st-century environmental challenges.
Understanding the document's central premise of federal leadership in environmental and economic transition is key to identifying the core debate.
2
Relate the resolution's objectives to the major political debates of the 21st century regarding environmental and energy policies.
The proposed federal intervention represents a major partisan divide where supporters favor federal regulation and green spending, while opponents argue this approach harms the economy, increases national debt, and threatens traditional energy industries.
Connecting the proposal to its historical context reveals that it is at the center of debates over the scope of federal power versus market-driven economic growth.
3
Evaluate the options to find the one that accurately describes this tension without introducing historical misconceptions.
The option discussing the balance between federal regulatory authority and economic impacts on traditional sectors is the only accurate representation of this 21st-century debate.
This matches the historical consensus on the nature of environmental policy debates in the 21st century.

Key Concept

The primary debate in 21st-century environmental policy centers on the balance between federal regulations/investments to combat climate change and the economic impacts of transitioning away from fossil fuels.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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21st-Century Environmental Challenges and Energy Policy

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