Since 1987, the New Mexico Environmental Law Center has worked every day to protect New Mexico's water, land and air from toxic pollution; and to assist its many and diverse communities protect their environment.
NMELC Resumes Role Representing Communities Most Threatened by Climate Change
SANTA FE, N.M.— The New Mexico Environmental Law Center (NMELC) has spent over 20 years assisting low-income communities and communities of color protect their environmental health, so when New Energy Economy approached the group with a proposal to cap greenhouse gas emissions in New Mexico, the NMELC jumped at the chance to address the growing threat that climate change and global warming has on many residents of the state. Today, the NMELC resumes its role presenting technical testimony in front of the Environmental Improvement Board during the week long hearing on the proposed emission cap.
“These communities we represent are likely to be disproportionately affected by climate change,” says Douglas Meiklejohn, NMELC Executive Director. “They generally have fewer resources with which to address impacts of climate change such as water shortages, extreme weather events, and increased rates of disease. In addition, residents of those communities generally are less able to adapt to climate change because of their limited resources and because in some instances (such as Native Americans) they are not able to avoid the effects of climate change by moving.”