Proponents of the Green New Deal recognize that there is no chance of passing progressive legislation with our 116th Congress and the fossil-fuel-funded Trump Administration. Currently, the government can’t even manage the basic operation of government, let alone trying to re-prioritize its economic principles. The movement behind Green New Deal represents far more than a legislative push from the left. Rather, it’s a sea change in progressive politics which can’t be suppressed by the reticence of a moderate select committee, nor even by a government shutdown.

Stephen O’Hanlon, spokesman for the Sunrise Movement put it best in an interview with Politico: “Legislation won’t make the case for itself. Supporters need to make the case for it. The goal is to convince the public that an extreme emergency justifies extreme actions.”

The progressive wave is surging, and those who take a conciliatory approach will be washed away to make room for those who are willing to meet the deluge of horrific truths head on.

The time has never been more appropriate to take extreme actions in our government and society. It’s outrageous to even consider playing it politically safe at such a dire time, and we need to make our politicians understand this — especially those who espouse concern for the environment but do not act.

So write to your representative and tell them you want to decarbonize the US economy. Show up at their office with your community. Tell them you are in support of making a Green New Deal.

Climate change will define our century. Reality has forced its way into our lives, into politics, and future politicians see that they need to make it their top priority. Elizabeth Warren, 2020 hopeful, just put Green New Deal on her platform, knowing full well that it’s a mandatory issue for the left. As we approach this primary season, we need to ensure that every candidate is committing to fighting climate change. We need to let them know that it is no longer acceptable to be funded by oil and gas executives. Now is the time to get pollution out of politics.

Lastly — and perhaps most importantly — we need to understand that action doesn’t start and stop with our representatives. We need to do all we can on local and state levels to reduce our carbon emissions and protect whatever remaining species are left. We need to exercise both our freedom of choice and power of boycott to do all we can to change our relationships with our planet, and things we do that contaminate and choke it.

We must continue to build the momentum and put pressure on those who remain complacent. We need to get angry. We need to take extreme measures.

So what will you do? And when will you start?