New Mexicans Demand Action After Fourth Legislative Failure to Pass Statewide Greenhouse Gas Emissions Regulations

[Santa Fe, NM] – Despite overwhelming public support and the urgent need to combat climate change, the Senate Finance Committee voted 6-5 to table the Clear Horizons Act, Senate Bill 4, failing to pass critical statewide greenhouse gas emissions regulations. This marks the fourth attempt since 2019 to establish meaningful proactive protections for our communities, air, land, and water—leaving New Mexicans vulnerable to the worsening impacts of climate change that they are already experiencing, including intensifying fires followed by floods, extreme heat and deep drought.

As a coalition of 34 environmental, social justice, and conservation organizations and businesses from across the state, we are deeply disappointed by the Legislature’s failure to act. However, our commitment to securing climate justice and environmental protection remains unwavering.

“New Mexicans—especially frontline, Indigenous, and rural communities—are already suffering from extreme heat, drought, air pollution, and increasing home insurance costs due to climate change. We cannot afford another year of inaction,” says Ona Porter, Prosperity Works Founder Emerita and Clean Energy Leader. “The cost of delay is too high, and our leaders must step up now to protect the people and places we love.”

While this setback is dangerous, there is still critical work to be done this session. Lawmakers have the opportunity to support other key environmental and social justice legislation that will advance clean energy, protect public health, and hold polluters accountable. We urge them to act boldly on the following bills:

The Community Benefits Fund, Senate Bills 48 and 49, would invest $340 million in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by climate change, providing resources for renewable energy projects, energy efficiency upgrades, and other projects that reduce carbon pollution. The Senate Conservation Committee passed the bills on Saturday, February 8, with a do-pass motion vote of 5-3.
The Innovation in Government Fund, Senate Bill 83, would provide $10 million in funding to state agencies to support efforts to reduce carbon emissions.

New Mexicans have made their voices clear: we demand bold climate action, environmental justice, and a clean energy future. We call on our elected officials to prioritize these urgent measures before the session ends.

The time for delay is over. We will continue organizing, mobilizing, and holding our leaders accountable until they take meaningful action to protect our communities, air, land, and water.

Background

The Clear Horizons Act (Senate Bill 4) is the fourth time a bill to codify greenhouse gas emission reductions has been introduced in the New Mexico Legislature since Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a climate change executive order in 2019. Previous bills were House Bill 9 in 2021, House Bill 6 in 2022, Senate Bill 520 in 2023. Despite excellent work by the state’s Climate Change Bureau and Task Force, the NM Environment Department’s 2024 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and Forecast identified that “existing statewide policies are not sufficient to meet 2030 carbon goals, and additional policy action is necessary.”

Climate change is already costing New Mexicans and our state millions of dollars annually. The majority of Governor Lujan Grisham’s 2024 executive orders – 183 out of 221 or 83% – were related to emergency funding to address the impacts of climate change, totalling $140 million of state dollars in just one year. Weather-based disasters have cost NM $5.3 billion in the past 42 years. A study by Resources for the Future (RFF) estimates that every $1 spent on GHG regulation returns between $2 to $6 in benefits due to improved health, lower energy costs, and avoided climate-related damages.

The 2025 Conservation in the West poll found that 77% of New Mexicans support the government taking action to reduce carbon pollution that contributes to climate change, such as the Clear Horizons Act. This is unsurprising given the various ways climate change impacts New Mexicans, including more severe wildfires and floods, extended droughts that limit water supplies, and more extreme weather events and heat.

The Clear Horizons New Mexico Coalition is a partnership of New Mexicans across the state from 34 climate, equity, social justice, and conservation organizations and businesses that are raising their voice in unison for climate action in the Land of Enchantment. At Clear Horizons, we celebrate our promise and commitment to keeping New Mexico beautiful and prosperous for everyone, now and in the future. Organizations and businesses include: 350 New Mexico, American Lung Association in New Mexico, Center for Civic Policy, Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy, Coalition of Sustainable Communities New Mexico, Conservation Voters New Mexico, Creciendo Nuevo Mexico, Devil’s Spring Ranch, E2 – Environmental Entrepreneurs, Earthworks, Environmental Defense Fund, GreenLatinos, GRID Alternatives, Healthy Climate New Mexico, Moms Clean Air Force New Mexico chapter, NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), New Mexico & El Paso Interfaith Power and Light, NM CAFe, NM Climate Investment Center, NM Native Vote, New Mexico Voices for Children, NMVC Action Fund, Positive Energy Solar, ProgressNow New Mexico, Prosperity Works, Renewable Energy Industries Association of NM, San Juan Citizens Alliance, Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter, Sovereign Energy, SWEEP (Southwest Energy Efficiency Project), the Semilla Project, Western Environmental Law Center, Western Leaders Network, and Western Resource Advocates.

Hear more from advocates below:

“This failure to secure critical climate protections is beyond disappointing, it’s frightening,” says Alexis Mena, New Mexico policy director at NRDC. “The effects of climate change are already upon us, as evidenced by the devastating wildfires, record-setting heatwaves and worsening droughts across our state, and it is far past time for the climate action this legislation would have provided. It is imperative that our representatives seize any and all other opportunities that remain to safeguard the future of New Mexico’s communities, economy and environment, before it’s too late.”

“The legislature fiddles while our communities burn. Industry claims economic harms while our insurance rates skyrocket. Our children wonder why we won’t act. New Mexico has the innovation, the technology and the workforce to meet the climate crisis. Instead, like Kodak, we do more of the same awaiting our bankruptcy,” says Camilla Feibelman, Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter Director.

“Today, our state legislature failed New Mexicans, failed our lands and waters, and failed to open new doors to a thriving, resilient future,” laments Erik Schlenker-Goodrich, executive director of the Western Environmental Law Center. “Let’s remember why: The oil and gas industry has entrenched themselves in our state politics, either buying off legislators with campaign donations or bullying legislators into submission. It is frankly infuriating.”

“Today’s vote is deeply depressing,” says Andrew Forkes-Gudmundson, senior manager for state policy at Earthworks. “Today, the New Mexico legislature, specifically the Senate Finance Committee, has failed the people of this great state. The Clear Horizons Act was a clear and commonsense approach to addressing greenhouse gas emissions in the state. It failed because some members of this committee are more beholden to oil and gas interests than they are to their constituents who are already suffering the negative impacts of climate change.”

“In 2019 New Mexico welcomed the passing of the Energy Transition Act. In 2021 SB112 established the Sustainable Economy Task Force to further the transition of our economy’s diversification. Thus far we have not been able to put the full force of this legislation to work. This is another missed opportunity to take meaningful actions for sustainable economic development and job creation in our most impacted communities,” says Glenn Schiffbauer with New Mexico Sustainable Business.

“It appears that in addition to living in fear of Trump and a Republican majority of the federal government the next four years, New Mexicans must also worry about so-called Democrats in the legislature beholden to oil and gas billionaires. With today’s vote it’s clear that no amount of community input can sway the legislature to take action on climate in any meaningful way.” Lucas Herndon, Energy Policy Director at ProgressNow New Mexico

“As climate change afflicts New Mexico communities with record-breaking heat, drought, wildfires and other costly and destructive impacts, the state legislature has failed to act. The Clear Horizons Act was a crucial complement to other legislative efforts that together would set New Mexico on the path to a healthier climate and sustainable economic future,” says Jessica Pace, Interim Executive Director at Western Leaders Network. “Failing to pass SB 4 is a missed opportunity and a letdown to elected officials across the state who want to see bold climate action and a just, equitable energy transition for their communities.”

“It is deeply disturbing that some legislators believe now is not the time for protecting New Mexico’s air, land, water and communities”, says Demis Foster, CEO for Conservation Voters New Mexico. “But later is too late. We owe it to our children and grandchildren to do what is necessary now to build a New Mexico where they can thrive.”

“It’s disappointing to see another missed opportunity to protect New Mexico’s communities and environment. Our Tribal and rural communities are already feeling the impacts of climate change, from droughts to wildfires. We need our leaders to prioritize meaningful solutions that safeguard our future and support a just transition to renewable energy. Despite this setback, we remain committed to advocating for environmental justice and energy sovereignty for our communities,” said Mayane Barudin, Executive Director, Sovereign Energy.

“We are deeply disappointed in the Senate Finance Committee’s vote killing Senate Bill 4 today. For too long, extractive industries have profited off our land, resources, and workforce and have not been held to high enough standards. We’ve missed opportunities to make important strides forward for climate justice, a diversified economy and workforce, our communities, and future generations – this being one of them,” said Oriana Sandoval, executive director at the Center for Civic Policy.

“Today’s decision to forestall meaningful climate legislation reflects how much the power of profit continues to overshadow the will of the people and the common good of our communities, said Rev. Clara Sims, assistant executive director of New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light. We can still build a thriving future for our people, lands, and waters in this beautiful state, but it will require bold and moral legislative leadership that is truly guided by the need of future generations for a safe, livable climate.

“This was an opportunity for New Mexico’s legislature to show leadership with good climate policy in the face of federal attempts to erase even the mention of climate change,” said Tammy Fiebelkorn, New Mexico Government Affairs Manager for Western Resource Advocates. “To have the Clear Horizons Act die in committee demonstrates the misplaced priorities of many of our legislators, who have shown they are willing to fail our state in order to align with the interests of the fossil fuel industry. The voices of New Mexicans who want urgent change will be heard. Now is the time for bold action, not capitulation and games of political kick-the-can.”

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Clear Horizons New Mexico is a coalition committed to fostering sustainable growth and environmental resilience throughout the State of New Mexico. Through the advocacy and implementation of groundbreaking legislation like the Clear Horizons Act (SB4), the Community Benefit Fund (SB48 & 49), and Innovation in State Government Fun (SB83) we aim to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote energy development and innovation, and enhance community welfare. Our mission is to transform New Mexico into a leader in energy & sustainability by harnessing the state’s unique environmental assets and cultural heritage, ensuring a thriving, sustainable future for all residents. Clear Horizons New Mexico collaborates with local communities, policymakers, and environmental experts to drive meaningful change and innovation.