The Front Line of Climate Justice

Last December in Copenhagen, corporate heads of state failed to make the
necessary agreements to save us from ourselves by agreeing to cap greenhouse
gas emissions.  If we learned anything from the recent national healthcare
reform debate, it's that we can't count on the U.S. Congress either given
the tens of millions of dollars and the army of high powered lobbyists
hammering away at would-be climate change legislation.

This is why it's important for states to continue to be leaders in reversing
the catastrophic course we are treading. In New Mexico, we have undertaken
just such an effort.

On March 1, the New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) heard
public comment for and against a petition to cap greenhouse gas emissions to
25% below 1990 levels-the minimum action the global scientific community has
recommended taking to mitigate the impacts of global climate change.
Successfully adopted, the petition, submitted by the NM-based New Energy
Economy and over eighteen other co-petitioners, including the SouthWest
Organizing Project, would make New Mexico the leader in the nation when it
comes to regulating greenhouse gasses.  This science-based cap on global
warming emissions highlights what needs to be done to address our climate
crises and would be a national model. 

Those who spoke in favor of the petition in front of the EIB represented
lifelong residents of the Four Corners area in northwestern New Mexico-one
of the most heavily polluted areas in the country--who spoke of noxious
fumes and the devastating impacts of the oil, gas and coal industries on
their health, land and animals.  Young people talked about their future.  A
pregnant mother talked about her soon-to-be-born son.  Faith leaders,
renewable energy producers, advocacy organizations, doctors, scientists and
local government officials all came forward in favor of capping greenhouse
emissions.  The room was packed-standing room only!

It was beautiful.

And then came the parade of polluters.  PNM, the major electric utility
company in New Mexico led the way as grand marshal.  They were followed by
suits representing the energy, mining, oil, gas, coal, agribusiness and
other manufacturing industries, and of course, their shareholders.  Also in
the parade were the various chambers of commerce and of course the new kids
on the block, the 'teabaggers.' They cited all the usual "if we do this the
sky will fall" arguments.  They argued the matter should be decided by our
state legislature or by the congress at the national level or at the
international level-as though the long political process necessary to
overcome the massive propaganda campaigns they wage is time we can afford. .
We've heard it all before.

It got ugly.

We cannot hold ourselves, our health, the health of our communities, the
health of future generations nor the health of our economy hostage to the
narrow and greedy interests of the parade of polluters.  States, counties
and cities can lead the way toward climate justice and I hope New Mexico
becomes the first.


Robby Rodriguez is the Executive Director of the South West Organizing
Project, a grassroots community organizing group founded in 1980 to realize
racial and gender equality and social and economic justice based in
Albuquerque, New Mexico. Since 1997, he has helped to organize New Mexico
communities to achieve social change in various capacities with SWOP.