A broad coalition of New Mexico advocates applauded Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham for announcing an executive order to protect 30% of the state’s land by 2030. The order—titled “Protecting New Mexico’s Lands, Watersheds, Wildlife, and Natural Heritage”—is a critical step to conserving the state’s treasured landscapes and biodiversity for generations to come, while bolstering our economy, expanding access to the outdoors, and increasing opportunities for hunting and fishing ...
Rio Grande Chapter statement on Interior Department lease announcement
The U.S. Interior Department issued a statement on August 16 announcing that it will fight the Louisiana U.S. District Court judge’s injunction on its oil and gas leasing moratorium but comply with the judge’s order to resume federal oil and gas lease sales ...
Community secures health, climate concessions on Newman 6
On August 17, the Chaparral Coalition for Community Health and the Environment, the Sierra Club, and Earthworks (the Community Groups) reached an agreement with El Paso Electric (EPE) that will substantially reduce air pollution in El Paso and southern New Mexico. The agreement will temporarily block new fossil fuel power plant construction while pushing EPE toward a clean energy future ...
Report analyzes energy equity in Western states’ climate policy
A national report on Wednesday laid out a path for environmental justice in New Mexico that avoids the potential disconnects between energy equity and climate policy ...
1,000 New Mexicans urge New Mexico to start Clean Cars rulemaking immediately
As the Environmental Improvement Board prepares to meet 7/23/21 to decide whether to approve a petition by community groups to start a rulemaking to adopt advanced Clean Cars standards in New Mexico, New Mexicans are urging them to move swiftly ...
NM is stalling on Clean Cars: Let’s get them started
New Mexico has pledged to create Clean Cars standards to tackle the climate emergency — but the state’s timeline could delay adoption for years. So we did it for them. ...
After a 16-month hiatus, the Rio Grande Chapter will once again be offering hikes, walks and tours beginning July 5th ...
Rio Chama, Pecos focus of privatization scheme
Fishermen and river-running enthusiasts in New Mexico are the targets of a stealthy and well-funded campaign to bar recreational access to segments of the Rio Chama and Pecos Rivers, among others, where they cross private land. The principal battleground is the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, where five wealthy private landowners have pending applications for “certificates of non-navigability.” These certificates empower them to outlaw recreational entry to private property via the rivers. The Game Commission has postponed its ...
Climate Coalition Petitions for Adoption of Clean Car Standard in 2021
A broad coalition of New Mexican citizen groups filed a petition with the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board today, asking the board to update its Advanced Clean Car Standards by the end of 2021. Updating and enforcing these rules is a critical step in resolving the climate crisis and protecting public health. The standards would limit air pollution from vehicle tailpipes and require auto manufacturers to deliver an increasing number of zero-emission electric vehicles (EVs) for sale in the ...
50 New Mexicans to Testifying in EPA Methane Listening Session
On June 21, the Environmental Protection Agency will host the first of three listening sessions to engage the public as they begin to craft new rules to tackle methane and associated pollution from new and existing oil and gas operations ...
