THE STATE OF CLIMATE ACTION IN NEW MEXICO:

A CALL TO ACTION

STATE CLIMATE ACTION ACHIEVEMENTS, GAPS & THE WORK AHEAD

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ABOUT THE REPORT

New Mexico is facing a climate emergency. Its impacts reach deeply into the daily lives of the state’s communities. Decades of extractive industry and climate change impacts in the southwest have put our wildlife species, ecosystems and communities at grave risk. The planet is now experiencing a global extinction crisis. Catastrophic wildfires, flooding, drought, and heat are uprooting communities and harming already marginalized people, especially Indigenous, communities of color, rural, low-income, LGBTQ+, people experiencing homelessness, pregnant persons, elderly and youth. Communities living adjacent to or working in the oil and gas industry also suffer from poor air quality, water contamination, increased illness, poor working conditions, and more. This disproportionately impacts immigrant, Indigenous, rural and LGBTQ+ communities the most.

Working together to address these challenges, New Mexico can act to create a world our children can thrive in and be proud to call home. We must act boldly to address the climate crisis by transitioning to a zero climate emissions economy and involving the most impacted and marginalized communities in the process...

STATE PROGRESS HIGHLIGHTS

2019

2022

Executive Order Addressing Climate Change and Energy Waste Prevention (2019-003).

State commits to 100% carbon neutral electricity by 2045 via the Energy Transition Act (SB 489).

$200,000 budget allocation to Department of Workforce Solutions to conduct a study to develop a workforce and economic development roadmap to integrate underrepresented communities into the clean energy economy.

Rules to reduce ozone precursor pollution, which would limit leaks of air pollution like methane and other chemicals from oil and gas industry facilities adopted.

Advanced Clean Cars (ACC) I adopted.

2023

ACC II, Advanced Clean Trucks, and Omnibus Heavy-Duty NOx (nitrogen oxides) standards adopted.

New Mexico Climate Investment Center, a “green bank” that will fund climate-focused projects, established.

Land of Enchantment Fund (SB 9) established.

2021

Executive Order Protecting New Mexico’s Lands, Watersheds, Wildlife and Natural Heritage (2021-052), commonly known as “30x30.”

Adoption of methane waste rules prohibiting routine venting and flaring of natural gas.

Passage of the Community Solar Act (SB 89).

Passage of Local Government Air Quality Regulations (SB 8).

Passage of the Sustainable Economy Task (SET) Force (SB 112), which created a state task force to develop a strategic plan to transition the state away from fossil fuel reliance.

2024

Adoption of the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code, improving building efficiency.

Conservation Legacy Permanent Fund (SB 9) fully funded, which will protect lands, waters, and wildlife from climate change.

Passage of the New Mexico Match Fund (HB 177) to leverage federal grants from President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda to expand infrastructure and renewable energy projects at the local level.

Passage of the Clean Fuel Standard (HB 41).

Draft Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan released to identify strategies to protect and prepare communities for the impacts of the climate crisis.

CLIMATE ACTION FRAMEWORK

Pass comprehensive climate action framework legislation that includes establishing sector-based climate pollution reduction targets in statute. It is critical that policies and rules ensure New Mexico is able to lead the nation in climate action and place the state on a path to transition to a zero-emission economy by mid-century.

Pass and codify comprehensive climate action framework legislation encompassing a zero-emission economy-wide climate pollution reduction goal.

Ensure that agencies have the necessary authority and capacity to carry out monitoring and verification of GHG emission sources and the progress of efforts to eliminate them.

Establish capacity within state agencies to create and administer a working group to quantify economy-wide climate emissions and reconcile the inconsistencies among current state analyses and the work done by the EDF and others.

EXAMPLES INCLUDE:

IMPLEMENT STATE CLIMATE ACTION PLANS

With or without climate framework legislation, the state must work to ensure that its Climate Action Plans incorporate the components of such a framework, that there is a plan for any necessary rulemaking, and that as much as possible is converted into statute where relevant.

Develop near- and long-term emission projections.

Establish and implement equitable and sustainable sector-based economic development strategies to reduce emissions across the entire economy.

Provide an analysis of benefits from emission reductions, including a workforce planning analysis.

Develop and implement plans to leverage federal funding.

EXAMPLES INCLUDE:

JUST TRANSITION

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A just transition cannot be a checkbox as New Mexico builds a zero-emissions economy. It requires concrete, actionable steps based on equitable and inclusive discussions with New Mexico’s diverse communities. Any just transition solutions must also be directly shaped by the communities most impacted, including communities of color, LGBTQ+, low-income, border and fossil fuel communities. This is imperative for true, long-lasting, transformational change.

Prioritize fossil fuel communities for entry into workforce training, apprenticeship and other economic development programs to create new career pathways for transitioning workers.

Pursue policies or administrative action for holistic job training and opportunities for rural communities and communities of color to build a just, renewable energy economy.

Establish a universal basic income for fossil fuel workers impacted by transition.

Develop plans for state revenue replacement during the transition that includes equity in New Mexico’s tax system.

EXAMPLES INCLUDE:

Photo credit: NM Political Report

CLIMATE GOVERNANCE

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Executive orders and rulemakings can easily be changed or eliminated by subsequent administrations. For this reason, it is essential to codify New Mexico’s recent climate progress in statute. Agencies must also be well-resourced to drive climate pollution reductions across all sectors of the state's economy.

Prioritize fossil fuel communities for entry into workforce training, apprenticeship and other economic development programs to create new career pathways for transitioning workers.

Pursue policies or administrative action for holistic job training and opportunities for rural communities and communities of color to build a just, renewable energy economy.

Establish a universal basic income for fossil fuel workers impacted by transition.

Develop plans for state revenue replacement during the transition that includes equity in New Mexico’s tax system.

EXAMPLES INCLUDE:

OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY

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New Mexico is the second-largest oil-producing state in the nation. However, the industry is also a significant source of air, land, and water pollution that harms communities and our climate. New Mexico also has a backlog of abandoned oil and gas wells that continue to pollute and need to be addressed.

Reform the Oil and Gas Act, including adequate financial assurance for full site reclamation, the reduction or elimination of unnecessary subsidies, and setbacks to protect public health.

Ensure full compliance with the New Mexico's venting and flaring Ozone Precursor Rules.

Transition away from fossil fuel projects; this includes hydrogen unless it is executed within the seven principles outlined in the organizational letter to Governor Lujan Grisham (Western Environmental Law Center et al., 2021).

Establish statewide criteria for oil and gas setbacks to protect vulnerable communities from the impacts of the industry.

EXAMPLES INCLUDE:

ELECTRIFICATION AND EFFICIENCY

Energy efficiency and renewable energy cut consumer costs while decreasing energy usage - a win-win for everyone. However, robust electrification and efficiency must touch every sector, from transportation to housing and schools, and more. Solutions must also be accessible to low-income families and communities.

Ensure full implementation of the Community Solar Act.

Solarize government buildings and schools in New Mexico.

Ensure rapid and full development of zero-emission vehicle charging capacity for personal and work vehicles, as well as public transit and school bus fleets.

Ensure the new state building energy efficiency codes are regularly updated and enforced.

EXAMPLES INCLUDE:

ADAPTATION AND RESILIENCE

New Mexico's communities are directly impacted by climate change, from public health to disasters, and more. Among those most impacted include those already marginalized: low-income, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, unhoused people, pregnant persons, youth, elderly and communities of color, The state must prioritize strategies that support, resource, and prepare these communities for the changing needs of the future.

Implement a surface water protection program to protect waters from pollution threats.

Invest in green spaces and tree cover, which will lower temperatures and provide shade.

Center and actively mitigate any wildlife impacts of renewable energy siting and development when selecting locations for renewable energy projects.

Identify and invest in community-centered resources and services for marginalized communities, including healthcare services, cooling centers, housing infrastructure and more.

EXAMPLES INCLUDE:

DEMOCRACY PROTECTION

A majority of New Mexicans want their leaders to move quickly and aggressively to address climate change. When New Mexicans are able to vote in large numbers and their elected representatives are responsive to voters’ priorities, we can achieve our climate goals. We must protect democracy and ensure all New Mexican voters have access to the ballot box and the ability to make informed decisions.

Modernize the state legislature, including providing salaries, staffing and adequate compensation for state legislators, which will enable more people of color, parents, LGBTQ+ individuals and low-income communities to step into policy spaces.

Ensure all people have access to climate change, climate science, environmental justice, civil rights and diversity literature in public libraries.

Ensure students are being taught about climate change, climate science, environmental justice, civil rights and diversity in schools to educate the next generation of decision-makers and leaders.