Design and the Green New Deal

A brief manifesto

Proposals for deep decarbonization, ecological megaprojects, and really any project that attempts to address the crises we face at the scale necessary to make a difference are often met with criticisms of “financial realism” and “government overreach.” What are the assumptions that underpin such a confident dismissal of these proposals? The infallibility of the free market to correct itself? The free market is what got us to this point, and has proven itself largely incapable of addressing environmental externalities, dwindling resources, and staggering wealth inequality in any meaningful way. Unfettered capitalism is what created this mess- it will not get us out of it, at least not in time. These criticisms ignore historical precedent, and the rightful role of government to regulate commerce and make investments that protect the long term health and prosperity of its inhabitants- especially critical roles to play in an economic system that prioritizes short-term gains for wealthy shareholders.

What constitutes “realism?” We have been brought to this point by a global system that operates on economic abstractions and market manipulations to the point that it has become disconnected from the ecological reality of the closed, very much not abstract earth system that we live in. It is not “realistic” to ignore the symptoms of the climate crisis when we observe melting glaciers and ice caps and permafrost, megafires, biodiversity loss, and large swaths of the earth’s surface that will become too hot for human habitation.

If we continue to only propose, design, pay for and build small projects- these forms of “urban acupuncture”- we have no hope of integrating our built environment with the natural environment in a way that is mutually beneficial and sustainable. It’s time for a hefty dose of real, proven medicine for what ails us: massive spending on deep decarbonization and green infrastructure, investment in the circular economy, and putting an adequate price on carbon and pollution. And it’s time to do so in a way that addresses the deep economic and environmental inequities we have designed into our society and built environment.

As designers, we have a role to play in envisioning what such a world would look like, and selling people on that vision. Daylighted stream corridors, restored wetlands and grasslands, green streets with protected bike lanes and rapid public transit, ubiquitous electric vehicle charging stations in public parking spaces, community microgrids, urban farms, green infrastructure- the list goes on and on. These aren’t just buzzwords- they are proven ways to improve the urban environment and transition to a more sustainable future. Let’s stop being shy about asking for it. And let’s show the world what that future looks like.