I’m guessing a lot of Earth Day emails came across your inbox earlier this week, just like mine. But did it feel surreal to read messages encouraging us to do our part to protect the planet given the moment we’re in?

It seems like the Trump administration is doing its best to yank the option to protect the environment out of our hands.

The administration wants to increase oil drilling, empower polluting industry, and erase both climate change and environmental justice. It feels like we’re losing momentum and instead drifting backwards to an era before Earth Day was established in the 1970s.

Their brand of politics thrives on creating division and distraction. When we’re busy hating on each other, we’re too distracted to witness the environmental protections they are erasing, the polluters they are empowering, and the justice they are denying.   

Things have gotten out of hand. But I want to assure you, there is still reason to hope.

Despite all the chaos, everyone—no matter what your political affiliation may be—can agree that clean air and clean water matter. Nobody wants their kids to get sick from drinking contaminated water, or to miss out on fishing because species have gone extinct, or to be unable to swim in creeks, lakes, or bays because it’s not safe.

Experience has taught me that protecting the planet and supporting the people who live on it go hand in hand. And thanks to partners like you, we’re making a difference and pushing forward.

This Earth Day, we’ve doubled down on our work to protect the Bay Area’s environment, because these efforts are more urgent than ever. Our field investigators and scientists are working around the clock to identify pollution at the source. Our advocates are speaking out louder to stop harmful government rollbacks. And our lawyers are defending the Bay more forcefully than ever before.

When we’re all hands-on-deck and working together, we win. And our wins keep hope alive.