Friends — This is, to say the least, not the headline we ever wanted to see.

But the reality is, there’s no big news here. We’ve known for years that burning fossil fuels has set us on a course for climate catastrophe. We’ve also known that there’s still time to tackle this crisis and secure our future if we take bold action right now.

As one of the United Nation’s top climate scientists states with the release of this report, “The choices we make now and in the next few years will reverberate around the world for hundreds, even thousands, of years.” That’s why I’ve put protecting our climate and environment front and center throughout my decades as a lawmaker, and it’s why I stepped up to be the first to introduce the Green New Deal in the Senate.

The Green New Deal is so necessary because we’re far past the time for half-measures and small steps towards 100% clean energy and environmental justice. If this UN report makes anything clearer, it’s that we need to take unprecedented action to transition our economy away from fossil fuels — and create millions of jobs in the process. The report also makes clear that marginalized communities are already dealing with the irrevocable damage caused by fossil fuels and worsening natural disasters. The Green New Deal ensures that these communities are centered in our efforts and made more resilient for the future.

In the end, we all want the same thing: a livable world to leave for the next generations to come. Right now is the time to fight like hell for that world. We can’t lose hope. I know I haven’t.

In solidarity,

Ed Markey