New Mexico Climate Report Shows Further Action Needed to Achieve 2030 Target

 (Santa Fe, NM – October 30, 2020) Today, the New Mexico Climate Change Task Force released its second annual report, detailing the state’s progress toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate impacts already occurring. The report includes an analysis showing that current and proposed climate policies will make a dent in greenhouse gas emissions, but the state will need further action to reach Governor Lujan Grisham’s science-based goal of 45% emissions reduction from 2005 levels by 2030.

“Governor Lujan Grisham has taken strong action on climate change, but comprehensive, economy-wide action will still be needed to provide the greatest possible certainty the state meets its climate goals and to protect New Mexicans from the worst impacts of a warmer, drier world.

“The emphasis this report puts on broad, inclusive stakeholder conversations around the sorts of tools that will be utilized to meet the reduction goals is key. Including a framework for climate equity that is developed with environmental justice communities, as well as an examination of both direct regulation and market mechanisms will be important to ensuring the best decisions are reached for the benefit of all New Mexicans.

“This report also underlines the need for New Mexico’s regulators to do more to close loopholes in their draft methane rules given that oil and gas emissions are the largest source of climate pollution in the state. If the loopholes are not addressed, Gov Lujan Grisham’s administration will fall short of their ambitious and needed targets.

“This report also underscores the importance of the New Mexico legislature enshrining the state’s targets on climate pollution in statute, so that the state will stay on track for meeting those targets. A decade ago, the state had a plan on climate, and now we’re starting again from scratch. We can’t afford for action on climate to be at the whims of politics. The state must remain steadfast in its commitment to bold climate action.”

• Jon Goldstein, Director for Regulatory & Legislative Affairs at Environmental Defense Fund