BOSTON — U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, said Thursday that he is supportive of the idea behind U.S. Sen. Ed Markey’s Green New Deal. Neal, the chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, has faced pressure from environmentalists over his lack of an endorsement of the environmental platform.

Asked about the Green New Deal after an event in Boston, Neal said he has “no latent opposition” to it.

“I like the thrust of it. I’m a supporter, a believer in it,” Neal said. “I do think there are some other things we can do on it that address the issue of the carbon footprint.”

Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, joined Democratic U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., in releasing a blueprint for an environmental agenda, which calls for a series of economic, social and energy goals to be achieved in the next decade. It includes things like upgrading buildings for energy efficiency and removing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation.

Neal has been the only member of Massachusetts’ all-Democratic congressional delegation not to endorse the Green New Deal, and environmental advocates had been pushing him to voice his support.

Neal said Thursday, “We all acknowledge the role that climate change is playing on Earth.” He said he has a strong pro-environment voting record.

“I’ve indicated there’s no opposition here from me as much as to say, this is an opinion and I agree with the opinion and that is that there’s an earnestness that needs to be addressed as it relates to climate change,” Neal said. He said he thinks there will be “a series of plans” ultimately released to address climate change.

Asked whether he will attend a town hall Markey is hosting in Northampton this Sunday to promote the Green New Deal, Neal said it is not his district.

Republicans have opposed the Green New Deal, saying it is an expensive plan with few concrete details and no way to pay for it.