Key Conservation Issues

Many issues affect the health of our environment and communities, and you’ll notice that only a small number are discussed here. That’s because these are the main issues addressed by the legislation included in this year’s scorecard. As past and future years’ votes and scores are added, so will more information on different issues.

Air Quality

Air quality is a significant and growing concern in New Mexico. Exposure to air pollutants has been linked to many adverse health effects, including exacerbation of asthma symptoms, diminished lung function, birth deformities and other problems, cardiovascular disease and childhood cancer. As many New Mexico families understand all too well, one of the most common…

Clean Energy & Climate Change

It’s simple: relying on oil, coal, and natural gas for the bulk of our energy needs is ultimately a losing proposition. Fossil fuels will peak and run out someday; they’re already becoming less efficient and even more environmentally harmful to extract. In the meantime, burning them emits so many pollutants and causes so many other…

Effective Government

Effective government (or “good government”) refers to the way in which elected officials exercise their political authority to successfully serve New Mexicans. Good governance with respect to the environment requires that decisions are made and implemented using legitimate, transparent, responsive, participatory, equitable processes to achieve effective policies that protect New Mexico’s communities and natural resources….

Environmental Justice

Environmental equity: Poison people equally Environmental justice: Stop poisoning people, period. from http://www.ejnet.org/ej One of the greatest tragedies of “economic progress” is the wildly disproportionate burden of environmental hazards suffered by low-income communities of color. Certain communities suffer staggering health problems simply because they lack the power of an upper- or middle-class neighborhood to fight…

Read more about Environmental Justice »

Healthy Rivers and Water Quality

In the desert, more than most places, we are constantly reminded that water nourishes us… that without a clean, sustainable supply of water, we couldn’t survive. What other Americans might take for granted, we cannot. The challenge of meeting the growing demands for water with the same limited supply—and how we meet that challenge—is likely…

Wildlife & Habitat Conservation

The Land of Enchantment’s color palette is overflowing—from red rocks and vivid sunsets to rich green bosque and deep blue sky. New Mexicans have a profound appreciation of the breathtaking beauty of our state. We have it all—majestic mountains, lush valleys, stunning mesas and scenic desert landscapes—and we know we are lucky that this is…