When newly elected Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham set out on the campaign trail, one of her promises to the citizens of New Mexico was to begin to hold the oil and gas industry across the state accountable for its contributions to air pollution and climate change. Less than a month into her administration and the governor has followed through on this ambitious campaign promise.

Through a bold initiative, Lujan Grisham is calling for a 45 percent reduction in greenhouse gas pollution in New Mexico by 2030 as compared to 2005 levels. With this executive order, the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department and the Environment Department will develop strategies focused on reducing methane emissions from oil and gas operations. This is vitally important given that more methane is wasted through venting, flaring and leakage on federal and tribal lands in New Mexico than in any other state. In 2018, New Mexico saw worsening air quality, partly from oil and gas development in the Permian Basin. On the other end of the state, the largest cloud of toxic methane in the U.S. has been documented over the Four Corners area.

This directive comes as the Trump Administration aggressively rolls back clean air rules and emission standards throughout the country. Gov. Lujan Grisham’s executive order is an opportunity to reduce waste of a critical resource while improving air quality within the state, despite attacks coming from Washington, D.C.