New Greenpeace Report Shows New Mexico Had 2nd Highest Per Capita Greenhouse Gas Emissions 1960-2005

Not good. A new report released by Greenpeace today shows that New Mexico emitted more global warming pollution from fossil fuel consumption between 1960-2005 than the individual national emissions from 137 of the 184 countries with comprehensive data available. For example, New Mexico’s emissions were greater than those of Switzerland and Israel, and the far more populous nations of Colombia and the Philippines. New Mexico’s cumulative emissions were larger than that of the 67 least polluting countries added up.

Focusing on per capita historical emissions, the results of the study are even more striking. New Mexico’s cumulative per capita carbon dioxide emissions from 1960-2005 were the second highest in the world, after only Luxembourg, according to Greenpeace.

The report underscores the disproportionate role the United States has played in contributing to the global warming crisis and our obligation to lead the world in finding its solution. Unless we act to curb our emissions now, it will be all but impossible for the world to stop catastrophic global warming impacts, including swelling seas, droughts wild fires, and water shortages.

Report Findings:
The U.S. far exceeds all other nations in cumulative emissions since 1960, accounting for nearly 26 percent of all the global warming pollution emitted in that period.

The US emitted more carbon dioxide than 171 of 184 countries combined.

The top state in cumulative emissions (1960-2005) was Texas. If Texas were its own country, it would have ranked 6th out of 184 countries in total emissions, trailing only China, Russia, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom, and exceeding the emissions of current major emitters like Canada, India, South Korea, and Iran.

Vermont, the state with the lowest emissions since 1960, still accounted for more total carbon dioxide emissions than 87 nations.

Finalizing International Climate Treaty:
In December, more than 190 nations of the world will gather in Copenhagen to finalize a treaty to tackle the climate crisis. Unless the U.S. sets high enough emissions reductions targets, it is likely that the rest of the world will not follow suit and the U.S. runs the risk of being accountable for the failure to stop global warming.

“Here in New Mexico we are already seeing the effects of climate change on our community. If we want to reduce global warming’s impacts and kick-start a clean energy future we must think not as New Mexicans but as citizens of the world. If we let our government get it wrong on global warming, instead of being the planet’s best hope, we will remain its biggest obstacle to progress,” said Joe Smyth, Greenpeace Field Organizer, in a statement released today.

NW New Mexico Coal-Burning Power Plants:
In New Mexico, 54% of carbon dioxide emissions come from the power sector, 25% from transportation, and the rest from industrial, residential and commercial operations. The highest emissions come from burning coal, which accounts for 30.1 million tons of CO2 annually, or 50% of fossil fuel emissions. The vast majority of those coal emissions were from the Four Corners and San Juan coal plants in Northwest New Mexico. And just think, Desert Rock -- another dirty coal-fired plant -- was planned to be built in the same area. Thankfully, that looks like a long shot now that the EPA is requiring a new permit.

Read the Reports:
Click to read the full report, America's Share of the Climate Crisis: A State-By-State Carbon Footprint. Data was derived from World Resources Institute’s Climate Analysis Indicators Tool, which can be found at https://cait.wri.org/.

Recently, Greenpeace released its U.S. roadmap for slowing climate change. In the report, called the Energy [R]evolution, Greenpeace supports a strong cap on global warming pollution, an end to fossil fuel and nuclear subsidies, mandatory efficiency standards for vehicles, buildings and appliances, binding targets for renewable energy generation and strong financial support for clean energy in developing countries. Click to read the Energy [R]evolution - A Blueprint for Global Warming.

How to Get Involved
To learn more about these issues or ways you can get involved to help, contact Joe Smyth, Field Organizer, New Mexico Greenpeace at 831-566-5647 (cell) or 505-554-2469 or joe.smyth@greenpeace.org.

Read the ss.org/bill/111-h2454/show">Waxman-Markey climate change bill. Contact your members of Congress to push them to do better. It's now or never in so many respects.