The Ten Key Values of the Green Party
The Green Party of the United States is built on a foundation of ten core principles known as the Ten Key Values. These values guide every aspect of the party's platform, from local community organizing in New York neighborhoods to national policy proposals. Understanding these values is essential for anyone who wants to participate in the Green movement or simply learn what sets this political party apart from the two major parties.
In New York State, where environmental challenges, social inequality, and political disenfranchisement remain pressing issues, the Ten Key Values offer a framework for building a more just and sustainable society. Each value addresses a specific dimension of the changes Greens believe are necessary for a livable future.
1. Ecological Wisdom
Ecological Wisdom is the recognition that human beings are part of the natural world and that our survival depends on maintaining healthy ecosystems. The Green Party calls for policies that respect the integrity of ecological systems, protect biodiversity, and ensure that natural resources are used sustainably. In New York, this principle drives advocacy for protecting the Adirondack Park, cleaning up the Hudson River, transitioning away from fossil fuels, and preserving farmland across the state.
Rather than treating the environment as a resource to be exploited, Ecological Wisdom asks us to make decisions with a deep understanding of ecological consequences. This includes opposing fracking, supporting organic agriculture, and investing in public transit to reduce emissions across the state.
2. Social Justice
The Green Party is committed to creating a society where every person has equal access to opportunity, resources, and justice. Social Justice as a key value means confronting systemic racism, economic inequality, and all forms of discrimination. In a state as diverse as New York, this principle is central to the party's work on issues ranging from criminal justice reform to equitable public education funding.
Greens advocate for living wages, universal healthcare, affordable housing, and an end to mass incarceration. The party recognizes that environmental justice is inseparable from social justice, as communities of color and low-income neighborhoods in New York disproportionately bear the burden of pollution and environmental hazards.
3. Grassroots Democracy
Grassroots Democracy is the belief that political power should rest with ordinary people rather than with corporations, lobbyists, or political insiders. The Green Party supports direct democracy, participatory budgeting, proportional representation, and public financing of elections. In New York, Greens have long advocated for opening up the political process to make it more accessible and transparent.
This value is also reflected in how the party itself operates. Green Party meetings in New York use consensus-based decision making and encourage every member to participate actively. The goal is a political system where every voice carries equal weight, regardless of wealth or social status.
4. Nonviolence
The Green Party is rooted in the principle of nonviolence, both domestically and internationally. This means opposing war, militarism, and the arms trade while supporting diplomatic solutions to conflict. Within communities, it means addressing the root causes of violence through investment in education, mental health services, and economic opportunity rather than relying solely on policing and incarceration.
In New York, Greens have supported gun violence prevention programs, restorative justice initiatives, and efforts to redirect military spending toward community needs. Nonviolence also informs the party's approach to protest and political action, drawing inspiration from the traditions of Martin Luther King Jr. and other leaders of peaceful social movements.
5. Decentralization
Decentralization is the principle that decisions should be made at the most local level possible. The Green Party believes that centralized power, whether in government or in corporations, tends to be unresponsive to the needs of ordinary people. By distributing power more broadly, communities can craft solutions that fit their unique circumstances.
In New York, this value is especially relevant given the tension between New York City and the rest of the state in terms of political influence and resource allocation. Greens support empowering local governments, strengthening community boards, and ensuring that rural and suburban communities have a meaningful voice in state policy decisions.
6. Community-Based Economics
Community-Based Economics calls for an economic system that serves people and communities rather than maximizing corporate profit. The Green Party supports worker cooperatives, community development financial institutions, local currencies, and fair trade. The goal is to keep wealth circulating within communities and to create economic structures that are democratic, equitable, and environmentally sustainable.
Across New York, this value is put into practice through support for farmers markets, community-supported agriculture programs, local credit unions, and small business development. Greens oppose corporate subsidies and tax breaks that benefit large corporations at the expense of working families and local economies.
7. Feminism and Gender Equity
The Green Party holds that the domination of one gender over another is a fundamental injustice that must be dismantled. Feminism and Gender Equity as a key value means supporting equal pay, reproductive rights, an end to gender-based violence, and the full inclusion of women and gender-diverse people in all aspects of political and economic life.
In New York, Green candidates and activists have been at the forefront of movements for reproductive justice, workplace equality, and LGBTQ+ rights. The party actively works to ensure that its own leadership reflects the diversity of the communities it serves, with an emphasis on elevating the voices of those historically marginalized by patriarchal systems.
8. Respect for Diversity
Respect for Diversity is the acknowledgment that a healthy society celebrates and protects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual, religious, and spiritual diversity. The Green Party opposes all forms of bigotry and discrimination and works to create inclusive spaces where every individual is valued.
New York is one of the most diverse places on Earth, and this value is central to the Green Party's work in the state. Greens support immigrant rights, language access, anti-discrimination protections, and policies that honor Indigenous sovereignty. The party recognizes that diversity is not merely something to be tolerated but is a source of strength and resilience for communities.
9. Personal and Global Responsibility
Personal and Global Responsibility means that individuals and nations must take responsibility for the impact of their actions on others and on the planet. The Green Party calls for ethical foreign policy, fair international trade, and a commitment to addressing global challenges like climate change, poverty, and human rights abuses.
On a personal level, this value encourages each of us to make choices that reflect our commitment to justice and sustainability, from how we consume to how we engage with our neighbors. In New York, Greens connect local issues like waste reduction and energy conservation to global movements for climate justice and human rights.
10. Future Focus and Sustainability
Future Focus and Sustainability is the principle that our actions today must take into account the well-being of future generations. The Green Party opposes short-term thinking that sacrifices long-term health and stability for immediate profit. Instead, Greens advocate for policies that ensure a livable planet, a stable climate, and a just society for those who come after us.
In New York, this means supporting the transition to 100 percent renewable energy, investing in sustainable infrastructure, protecting open space and agricultural land, and building an economy that does not depend on the depletion of natural resources. Sustainability is not just an environmental concept for the Green Party; it extends to economic, social, and political systems as well.
The Ten Key Values in Action
Together, the Ten Key Values form a comprehensive vision for a society that is ecologically sound, socially just, and genuinely democratic. For New Yorkers interested in an alternative to the two-party system, these values offer a clear and principled foundation for political engagement. Whether you are concerned about climate change, economic inequality, or the erosion of democratic norms, the Green Party's Ten Key Values provide a roadmap for meaningful change.
Getting involved with the Green Party in New York means joining a community of people who are committed to living out these values every day, from the ballot box to the community garden. The Ten Key Values are not just abstract ideals; they are a practical guide for building the world we want to see.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Ten Key Values are the foundational principles that guide every Green Party chapter across the United States. They include Ecological Wisdom, Social Justice, Grassroots Democracy, Nonviolence, Decentralization, Community-Based Economics, Feminism and Gender Equity, Respect for Diversity, Personal and Global Responsibility, and Future Focus/Sustainability.
These values were first articulated in the 1980s as the Green movement grew in the United States. They remain the moral and political compass for all Green Party platforms, candidates, and community actions today.
In New York, the Ten Key Values shape how Green Party members approach issues ranging from environmental protection in the Hudson Valley to affordable housing in New York City. Grassroots Democracy drives the party's emphasis on participatory budgeting and community board involvement across the state.
Social Justice and Respect for Diversity are especially relevant in one of the most diverse states in the nation. Green candidates in New York consistently advocate for equitable policies that address racial, economic, and environmental disparities in both urban and rural communities.
Ecological Wisdom means recognizing that human societies must operate within the ecological limits of the planet. It calls for decisions that account for the health of ecosystems, biodiversity, and future generations rather than short-term economic gain.
In practice, this value drives Green Party support for renewable energy, habitat protection, sustainable agriculture, and opposition to practices like fracking and industrial pollution. It encourages people to see themselves as part of the natural world rather than separate from it.
Grassroots Democracy means that every person deserves a direct say in the decisions that affect their lives. The Green Party believes that political and economic power should flow from the bottom up rather than being concentrated among wealthy donors and political elites.
This value is put into action through practices like consensus-based decision making at party meetings, support for ranked-choice voting, public financing of elections, and opposition to corporate influence in politics. In New York, Greens have championed participatory budgeting and community-led planning processes.
The Green Party recognizes that patriarchal structures and gender-based discrimination are deeply intertwined with environmental destruction, economic inequality, and militarism. Feminism and Gender Equity as a key value affirms the party's commitment to dismantling these systems of oppression.
This value calls for equal rights and opportunities regardless of gender, support for reproductive freedom, ending gender-based violence, and ensuring that women and gender-diverse individuals hold leadership roles within the party and in government. It reflects the understanding that true social justice cannot exist without gender equity.
Community-Based Economics is the principle that economic activity should primarily benefit the communities where it takes place. The Green Party supports locally owned businesses, worker cooperatives, community land trusts, and economic models that prioritize people and the environment over corporate profit.
In New York, this value translates into support for local food systems, community-owned renewable energy projects, and policies that keep wealth circulating within neighborhoods. It stands in contrast to an economic system that extracts resources and profits from communities while leaving behind pollution and poverty.