Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Pitches a 'Green New Deal' to Tackle Climate Change

Representative-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is pitching a "Green New Deal" that she says would overhaul U.S. energy use, reduce carbon emissions and create new jobs.

"We can put so many people to work," Ocasio-Cortez told an audience at a televised town hall Monday night. "We need to refit so many pipes. We need to re-lay roads. We need to rebuild schools. We need to invent technology that's never even been invented yet."

Ocasio-Cortez delivered her remarks at an event hosted by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman is credited with popularizing the term "Green New Deal" back in 2007.

"Friedman was talking about government intervention and incentives to jump-start an industry," WNYC Washington correspondent John O'Connor explained. "But Ocasio-Cortez and allies are talking about a much broader overhaul of energy, the economy, and society. There's an environmental justice component which could include a federally guaranteed job in the green energy industry."

O'Connor spoke with WNYC's Richard Hake.