Washington (August 9, 2021) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), co-author of the Green New Deal resolution and Chair of the Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate and Nuclear Safety, released the following statement today after the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued its Sixth Assessment Report, which details how human activity is unequivocally driving global temperature rise and changes in weather at unprecedented rates. The IPCC report finds that global temperatures will continue to increase until at least mid-century, exceeding 1.5 and 2 degrees Celsius unless we take the steps to ensure deep reductions in carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases this decade and next.

“This IPCC report reaffirms what we are seeing and suffering right now across our country: climate change will continue to cost us lives and livelihoods if we don’t respond with the scope and scale this moment demands. From increasing intensity and frequency of extreme heat, to catastrophic precipitation and devastating droughts, no person or community will be able to hide from the serious and most dire impacts of our human-driven climate crisis. Previous IPCC reports should have been roadmaps for action -- the scientists have spoken clearly for more than a generation about the damage humans are doing to our planet. This report must be the final warning to the world that time has run out to save the planet from dangerous and irreversible climate change.

“With that said, we can’t agonize — we must organize, just like the young people across the country and world who are demanding action from their leaders. An intergenerational movement of climate leaders are calling on Congress to include major climate action in the budget reconciliation package — which is our best opportunity to respond with solutions to the impacts outlined by the IPCC. With policies to drive deep cuts in emissions, protect communities from climate impacts, and provide equity and justice to overburdened communities, we can respond to overwhelming evidence and take the necessary action to save our people and our planet.

“If Senators truly followed the science in this report, we’d have 100 votes for climate action to match the 100 percent certainty that human-caused climate change is destroying our planet.”