Washington (November 14, 2023) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Safety, issued the following statement after the release of the Fifth National Climate Assessment from the U.S. Global Change Research Program:

“The risks of climate change and the rewards of climate action have never been clearer. Clean energy is more abundant and affordable than ever, and climate action brings near-term benefits while building a long-term livable planet. But while our nation is responding to this crisis, our communities are experiencing unprecedented amounts of change and destruction—heatwaves, floods, wildfires, droughts, and more. We must lead the world in a global Green New Deal, keep up the fight for a livable future, and leave the fossil-fueled climate crisis in the past.”

This congressionally mandated National Climate Assessment, prepared through an interagency process, is the preeminent federal report on the risks of and response to climate change.