Episode #15: Climate Leaders 101: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her progressive climate advocacy through the Green New Deal

RAIA(ffairs)

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has swiftly risen to prominence as a formidable political force, captivating the nation's attention with her advocacy for combating climate change and rectifying social injustice. Both her policies and ideology have shaped her identity as a climate leader.. In this episode of our 2023 Climate Leaders 101, we discuss climate leader AOC with IE students, Felipa and Maria. We look at her humble working class beginnings and her rise to becoming the youngest Congresswoman in the US. The discussion delves into her progressive ideological policies, particularly her political outlook on the concept of social, education and climate “justice.” This includes her main policy, consisting of a 10-year transition plan for the US economy through renewable energy and green jobs. While this particular Deal has not yet passed in Congress, our guests discuss other bills which AOC has helped pass regarding climate action. At the end of our discussion, Felipa and Maria argue as to why their analysis concludes AOC IS a climate leader and how the public has reacted to her Green New Deal. The Climate Leaders 101 series is brought to you as a collaboration between RAIA and IE University’s School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs. Ten IE students have researched five climate leaders under RAIA supervision and with RAIA’s methodology ahead of the COP28. This is the second year we have conducted this research program fully financed by our partners from IE University. Check out the report on AOC written by Felipa Regine Eichel and Maria Romero: https://raiagroup.org/ie-university-x-raia-research-program-2023 Check out Felipa Regine Eichel’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/feichel