Club supports Carbon Cap for New Mexico

November 17 - The Sierra Club supports the existing carbon cap regulation that was passed by the New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) in 2010. The Club filed its entry of appearance with the EIB today.

Governor Martinez made campaign promises to eliminate these safeguards and she started by firing the old EIB in her first week on the job. She replaced them with people who are portrayed as business friendly, but they are truly anti-people, as they do not support environment improvement as the name of the board would indicate.

The Sierra Club opposes the Petition to Repeal Rule 20.2.100, the greenhouse gas reduction regulations. The members of the Club in New Mexico will be adversely affected by the proposed repeal of the Rule 20.2.100. The overwhelming consensus among climate scientists is that rising global temperatures are primarily the result of human activity. Specifically, they are the result of an increase in heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere, primarily carbon dioxide resulting from the burning of fossil fuels. Climate models predict that with rising temperatures, New Mexico will experience an increased frequency of drought, which we are already seeing. With increased drought, there will be an inadequate water supply to support agriculture and shortages for our cities. Forest fires will become more frequent. Summer heat will make living in our state more difficult, and much more expensive. Temperature and precipitation changes will result in the destruction of habitat and have adverse impacts on wildlife. With more fires, dying forests, and a loss of wildlife, recreational opportunities in the outdoors will be reduced or, in some instances, eliminated for New Mexicans and the tourist business. In addition to direct impacts on the State, global warming will adversely impact the world’s ability to produce sufficient food to support human populations. Food shortages and the increase in extreme weather events will result in environmental refuges and increased instability worldwide, which will inevitably impact and implicate the United States.

Far from eliminating greenhouse gas reduction rules, New Mexico along with other jurisdictions should be moving with all deliberate haste to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases in a manner consistent with what the best science indicates is needed to avoid catastrophic climate change.