Contact: Bill Rodgers, Sierra Club, Rio Grande Chapter
(330) 881-9918 | bill.rodgers@sierraclub.org

“Two Futures. One Vote” Addresses Climate Accountability

ALBUQUERQUE — A coalition of nonprofits launched a campaign addressing the urgent need for climate action and is asking the 77 percent of New Mexicans who support common sense climate policy for their help.

In February, the New Mexico Senate defeated the Clear Horizons Act (SB18), a bill which would have codified greenhouse reduction goals that have worked successfully for eight years. This bill would have reduced our pollution to what it was in 2005, reaching net zero by 2050. These goals were outlined in Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s climate initiatives set in 2019. New Mexico’s largest polluters, mainly the oil and gas industry, limited their pollution under this plan.

Oil and gas lobbyists, who represent industries that reap tremendous profits by extracting our publicly owned resources, launched a well-funded misinformation campaign to swing votes. These lobbyists would not have been successful had seven Democratic Senators not sided with every Republican against the bill. It was defeated 23-19 with the help of Senators Roberto Gonzales (D-Taos), Shannon Pinto (D-Tohatchi), George Muñoz (D-Gallup), Benny Shendo (D-Jemez Pueblo), Joseph Cervantes (D-Las Cruces), Martin Hickey (D-Albuquerque), and Antonio Maestas (D-Albuquerque).

As New Mexicans stare down another wildfire season with almost no precipitation, record-low snowpack, and the hottest temperatures recorded in 131 years, and as costs to taxpayers for dealing with climate disasters has crested billions of dollars, the Senate’s choice to side with oil corporations against New Mexicans demands accountability. We are disappointed in Democrats who ignore what their constituents want and buy into the misinformation of corporations. We are fed up with lawmakers of both parties who refuse to act as members of their communities deal with loss of life and livelihood, property damage, flooding, negative health outcomes and yearly recordbreaking wildfires.

Our campaign, “Two Futures. One Vote,” recognizes that we are standing at a crossroads. If lawmakers continue to be negligent, wildfires and climate disasters will get worse. On the other hand, New Mexico could instead embrace the values held by a supermajority of its people. It could enact climate reforms and protect our land, water, wildlife and health. This would not only save our state from the industries that are killing us, but would also benefit our economy through clean, safe, and reliable alternative energy.

Our coalition asks New Mexicans to join us. Would you please thank senators who stood with their communities or express your disappointment to senators who allowed themselves to be swayed by lobbyists and their misinformation? Please follow the links included in our advertisements. You can contact these lawmakers directly using the action alerts on the Sierra Club’s website.

The Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter is joined in this message by 350 NM, GreenLatinos, New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light and the Western Environmental Law Center.

To the Senators who voted YES: Thank you!

You stood up for New Mexico. For clean air, economic certainty, and technological innovation. You tried to protect families from costs related to extreme heat, wildfires, drought, health impacts and loss of livelihoods. You understood that no snow pack means no spring runoff. That extreme fires lead to profoundly dangerous flash floods. You recognized that climate solutions lead to economic resilience – and that planning ahead will benefit New Mexico’s workers, our communities and our economy. We are grateful for your leadership!

Contact your senator who voted yes

To the Senators who voted NO: We expected better.

At a time when families are paying more than ever for utility bills because of hotter and longer summers and more for homeowners insurance, especially after disasters, you chose to leave us with an uncertain future. Drought and extreme heat will continue to harm New Mexico. The costs of inaction are real: billions in taxpayer money. And these costs will continue to rise. You also chose to deprive New Mexico of the economic benefits of safe, plentiful energy, innovation and jobs. New Mexicans deserve leaders who confront challenges and seek new opportunities, not refuse to act in times of crisis.

Contact your senator to express your disappointment