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KEY:

Below details statewide actions or legislation addressing needs outlined in the climate report since its 2024 publication. 

CLIMATE FRAMEWORK 

Adopted/signed into law
Under consideration
Failed or rolled back

Recommendation: Pass and codify comprehensive climate action framework legislation encompassing a zero-emission economy-wide climate pollution reduction goal and pass relevant pieces into statute.

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

JUST TRANSITION

Recommendation: 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. 

CLIMATE GOVERNANCE

Recommendation: Implement recommendations from the New Mexico Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives Task Force, including data gathering.

Recommendation: Protect the Energy Transition Act and its full implementation. 

OIL & GAS INDUSTRY

Recommendation: 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.

Recommendation: Ensure full compliance with the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) venting and flaring rule and the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) Ozone Precursor Rule.

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

Recommendation: Eliminate unnecessary tax subsidies for the oil and gas industry, and channel generated funding into programs that benefit vulnerable populations and a climate resilience fund to assist the state in implementing climate mitigation plans and policies.

ELECTRIFICATION & EFFICIENCY

Recommendation: Solarize government buildings by mandating in legislation and/or creating a fund for local municipalities to apply for funding for this purpose.

Recommendation: 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.

Recommendation: Create a fund or mechanism for hospitals, centers of worship, schools and community centers to install solar and battery storage to serve as emergency, community response and cooling centers in events of climate disaster or heat waves. 

ADAPTATION & RESILIENCE

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

Recommendation: Implement the recommendations from the 50-Year Water Plan and commit relevant sections into statute. 

Recommendation: Pass and implement the Public Health and Climate Program policy that will include climate impacts in public health and assist local communities in developing and implementing adaptation strategies.

Recommendation: Reform the Game and Fish Department so it assumes an ecosystem approach and provides protections and improvements across the system, rather than just for selected game species.

Recommendation: Establish a statewide paid medical leave standard so that all workers can address health concerns and issues without sacrificing their incomes.

Recommendation: Invest in state water conservation measures for rural communities, including xeriscaping, and upgrade outdated infrastructure, such as water pipes.

Recommendation: Address fire risk through strategies like thinning in appropriate locations to improve drought resistance and lessen the likelihood of massive, intense, crown fires; create conditions for a more diverse understory ecosystem that can support more biodiversity; and improve soil conditions.

DEMOCRACY PROTECTION

Recommendation: Identify measures still needed to protect democracy in New Mexico, but especially measures to embed protections against gerrymandering and voter suppression to ensure electoral transparency.

Recommendation: 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. 

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

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SUPPORT THIS WORK:

PAID FOR BY CONSERVATION VOTERS NEW MEXICO

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