Climate Action Now:
Seizing the Moment For Bold Climate Action From New Mexico
Climate Action Now
We are at a climate crisis turning point in New Mexico, but we are also in a unique political moment. In November 2020, voters elected a new federal Administration and Congress, ushering in a new mandate for urgent action on climate. The administration proposed, and Congress passed, several far-reaching initiatives: the American Rescue Plan Act, the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the historic investments in climate and equity in the Inflation Reduction Act.
In 2018, New Mexico elected a pro-conservation Governor, Commissioner of Public Lands, Public Regulation Commissioner, and House of Representatives. There has been more pro-conservation executive action, agency rulemaking and legislation in the Lujan-Grisham administration than at any time previously. This broad agenda has prepared New Mexico to fully leverage the federal funding and initiatives coming from the Biden administration.
The state’s economic reliance on oil and gas is substantial, with the industry regularly contributing at least 30% of New Mexico’s General Fund each year. This has led to policy decisions that incentivize oil and gas development. However, oil and gas support of the state budget varies drastically with the boom-and-bust cycle of fossil fuels and the dramatically fluctuating revenue streams hamstring the state’s ability to plan long-term.
Vision
We are still in the early stage on the road to an equitable zero-emission economy. With so much at stake at the local and federal level, it is imperative that we continue to build on the progress New Mexico has made in recent years. With a robust statewide engagement strategy, we will build support for bold federal action, center racial equity, protect the Energy Transition Act, embolden state leadership to continue to take stronger action through administrative and policy work, and develop policies in direct partnership with communities most impacted by the climate crisis and the just transition to a zero-emission economy.
- Ensure full implementation of the Energy Transition Act
- Develop and advocate for a statewide economic transition to a more stable economy rooted in New Mexico’s strengths, like outdoor recreation, renewables, and community-centered economic drivers
- Build the political will to pass a comprehensive suite of climate legislation at the state and federal level that addresses carbon pollution from sources outside of the energy sector, centered in racial equity and partnership with communities most impacted
- Ensure that our environmental regulators have sufficient funding in agency budgets to hold the oil and gas industry accountable, and implement new rulemakings and policy ideas, given the recent economic downturn experienced in 2020
- Close critical gaps in energy policy, like renewable energy workforce pathways for communities of color
- Ensure PRC appointees are fully engaged with the ETA and the Climate EO goals, while carrying out their mandate to protect consumers
- Push for a statewide transit equity policy that is accessible for low-income families and communities of color
- Work with the federal government, automakers and the private sector to build out charging infrastructure in the state in a way that makes sense for both urban and rural EV users
- Pass legislation and funding for 30×30 to enable land acquisition, conservation easements, and land and water resilience projects
- Push through the next steps in electrifying transportation: Advanced Clean Cars 2, Advanced Clean Trucks, and Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) Rules for Heavy Duty Trucks
Resilient Energy Sources
28 turbines (50 MW) on the Deming Plain near Nutt, Luna Co., NM. Mimbres Mountains in background. 27 Sep 2012. Photo: J. N. Stuart
Related Work
Learn more about Climate & Energy efforts.
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Broad-Based Support
CVNM partners with and supports these organizations in order to move the needle on Climate & Energy.
Special thanks to…