Posted November 20, 2025
Today, with the average cost of living rising for New Mexicans, new data presented to lawmakers recently, shows that hotter temperatures are already adding up for families and communities across the state.
At the Water and Natural Resources Interim Committee hearing in Santa Fe, scientists, economists, and policy leaders told lawmakers that New Mexico is paying a steep price for rising temperatures from higher insurance premiums and shrinking water supplies to the mounting costs of rebuilding after fires and floods.
“In just the last year, New Mexico has had to spend more than $256 million through executive orders alone to respond to fires, floods, and other climate-driven disasters — and the fiscal year isn’t even over,” said Adrian Avila, Principal Fiscal Analyst, New Mexico Senate Majority Office. “The frequency of disasters is increasing — it’s not going away — and our emergency spending reflects that reality.”
Findings from state data show that climate-related losses could reach one-third of New Mexico’s annual budget by 2040 if the state fails to act.
“New Mexico has spent nearly a decade in severe to exceptional drought. That kind of long-term stress supercharges wildfires, dries out soils, and turns routine rainfall into catastrophic flooding,” said Ali Rye, Secretary, Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department during the presentation. “Before 2022, New Mexico hadn’t had a federally declared disaster since 2012. But in the last three years alone, we’ve had four — a dramatic shift that shows how severe and widespread these events have become.”
During the hearing, Senate President Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart outlined her proposal — the Clear Horizons Act — which codifies New Mexico’s 2050 climate pollution emissions goals and establishes a framework for long-term investment in clean energy, resilience, and community preparedness.
“New Mexico families are already feeling the rising costs of wildfires, flooding, and extreme weather — in higher insurance bills, utility costs, and the everyday expenses that shape our way of life,” Senator Stewart said. “The Clear Horizons Act puts the Governor’s executive order into statute and gives our agencies the tools and certainty they need to guide industry, safeguard family budgets, and secure a healthier, more resilient future for our state.”
The Clear Horizons Act works in tandem with the Community Benefit Fund, which invests directly in community-led projects that create jobs and strengthen local resilience from wildfire recovery in Mora County to renewable energy storage in Eddy County and water infrastructure in Curry County. Together, these initiatives lay the groundwork for a cleaner, more stable future that rewards hard work and keeps opportunity in New Mexico.
“Things are only going to get worse if we don’t take action – and it’s going to take all of us working together,” said Representative Tara Lujan, House District 48. “This legislation matters because it gives New Mexico a real plan, one that brings state agencies, local governments, and communities onto the same page so we can finally tackle greenhouse gas emissions and build a safer future for our families.”
The Clear Horizons New Mexico Coalition is a partnership of New Mexicans across the state from 35 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.
“The planet is like a hot car in the sun, our communities are strapped into the carseat in the back. There’s no way to get out. Legislators are in the driver’s seat and can give us some relief. We’re so grateful to Senate Pro Temp Mimi Stewart and Rep. Kristina Ortez for bringing the legislation we need to continue reducing our climate emissions, protecting our New Mexico communities and the place we love,” said Camilla Feibelman, Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter Director.
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