The 2022 30-day session was disappointing, not just at the time but even more so considering the early and massive wildfire season that started just two months later. The urgency to move quickly and boldly to address the climate crisis was great then, and is even greater now.
Ultimately the legislature settled on a budget that didn’t address the challenge. For example, NMED submitted a request for 14 new employees to form a climate bureau. HB 2 ultimately included $650,000 for a climate bureau, sufficient for 3 to 4 staff.
With significant surpluses in the form of both state and federal dollars, New Mexico had the opportunity to make a real investment in setting the state up. The budget process didn’t take advantage of that opportunity.
Despite the misses for climate action, significant progress was made in the conservation space between the allocation of ARPA funds in the December 2021 special session and the 2022 short session budget. Money set aside for State Parks, outdoor recreation, and some public land acquisitions indicates that the legislature and Governor committed to resourcing the state’s 30×30 plan and executive message moving forward.
It’s time to confront the heartbreaking truth: we are in a climate emergency. Our commitment to passing bold climate legislation has not wavered, but we will need your support and commitment to ensure that our elected leaders will take bold climate action to protect our communities, families, and economies and build a future in which our children and future generations can thrive.
Inspring landscape photo along with credits Photo: Link
New Mexico’s Indigenous, low-income, rural, and communities of color are most severely affected by the symptoms of climate change – higher temperatures, worsening drought, and more extreme weather in general. These same communities also experience systemic obstacles to civic engagement,…
The passage of SB 53, Storage of Certain Radioactive Waste, marked a significant step forward in New Mexico determining its own nuclear future. Before this bill, our state was subjected to federal nuclear authority without robust regulatory power of its own.
HB 164 outlines Department of Environment duties for clean-up and reclamation of former uranium mine and mill sites; tasks other departments, offices, and agencies to collaborate (EMNRD, Indian affairs, office of natural resources trustee, state land office; depts. of fish and game, cultural affairs, health, workforce solutions, and economic development); duties include the development of a strategic plan and a mechanism for consultation and coordination with the federal government and directly impacted communities; requires annual reporting to the radioactive and hazardous materials committee and the creation of a Dept. of Environment uranium mine reclamation coordinator position; creates the uranium mining reclamation revolving fund; appropriates $350,000 general fund dollars to Dept. of Environment for FY23 for purposes outlined.
HB 164 passed the House 64-0, and the Senate 26-0 and was signed by the Governor on March 1, 2022
HB 37 creates new state grant program for low-income households, including requirements, selection criteria, administration; creates reporting requirement for public utilities related to energy efficiency efforts, due by end of 2023.
HB 37 passed the House 44-24, and the Senate 26-14 and was signed by the Governor on February 28, 2022.
From community members to political candidates, we work with potential leaders in New Mexico to support our ecological health and social equity.
Through our Conservation Voters New Mexico Action Fund (CVNM Action Fund), a nonpartisan coordinated political action committee, we work to elect pro-environment candidates and to defeat anti-environment candidates at the state level up to the amount allowed by New Mexico campaign finance laws.
Through our work with CVNM Action Fund, we let voters know that—for New Mexico’s air, land, water and communities—who we elect matters.
Need an award description: Since XX year, CVNM has been honoring members of the 100%–our legislatures with A+ pro-conservation voting records.
In order to pass strong laws that protect New Mexico’s environment, we believe it is critical to engage in the electoral process.
Through our work with both CVNM Action Fund and CVNM Verde Voters Fund, we let voters know that—for New Mexico’s air, land, water and communities—who we elect matters.
We are committed to creating long-term change by working with communities to address environmental issues impacting their health and quality of life. We do this by bringing community members together to work on policy solutions, providing skills-building trainings and resources, organizing public events and connecting activists with decision-makers.
