Health advocates in New Mexico are renewing their efforts to address the health impact of climate change, including wildfires, extreme heat, flooding, and other weather events. A group of healthcare professionals, led by Healthy Climate New Mexico, is pushing for two key legislative proposals aimed at improving the state’s preparedness for extreme weather events and tracking the health impacts of climate change.
The first proposal seeks to expand the climate health program at the New Mexico Department of Health, allowing the department to track the effects of extreme weather on public health. The second would create a grant fund to help local and tribal governments improve their ability to respond to climate-related disasters. Together, these bills aim to enhance preparedness, resilience, and data collection.
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The request for state funding includes $1.1 million to expand the Department of Health’s climate health program by hiring additional staff, implementing warning systems, and improving communication between agencies. The second proposal calls for $12 million for the Extreme Weather Resilience Fund, which would support local and tribal governments in responding to disasters. The bills are expected to be introduced in both the House and Senate during the upcoming legislative session.
This marks the third attempt to bring such proposals before lawmakers, with growing support from the governor’s office and legislators. Proponents, including groups like Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless and New Mexico Voices for Children, argue that the bills are crucial in addressing the public health impact of climate disasters, which already cause harm and fatalities in New Mexico. The state has seen an increase in heat-related deaths, injuries, and flooding, which leads to concerns about mold. Additionally, wildfire smoke has been detrimental to respiratory health, especially among children and the elderly.
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Stephanie Moraga-McHaley, a retired health official who led New Mexico’s environmental health tracking program, supports the bill for its potential to expand current tracking efforts beyond just counting deaths and injuries. Public health researcher Nathaniel Matthews-Trigg emphasized the need for more funding and staff to fully assess the health impacts of extreme heat, which has been linked to increasing emergency department visits. He warned that without proper surveillance, New Mexico risks being ill-prepared to address the growing public health threat posed by climate change.
These legislative proposals aim to close critical gaps in data and response, helping the state better understand and mitigate the health consequences of climate disasters.
