Ron Curry

April 22 marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. We can thank people like Sen. Gaylord Nelson, the founder of Earth Day, for creating a fledgling environmental movement that allowed crucial environmental legislation to be adopted and implemented.

Since then, we have benefited from federal and state laws that make our air cleaner and our water safer. Those laws protect our children, keep people healthy, save lives and provide for sustainable development.

It is important to note that while we were busy cleaning up the environment, our nation’s economy grew. At the same time, we made significant progress in improving the quality of our environment, and the gross domestic product of our country grew more than 126 percent. That growth, of course, was contrary to the predictions of many of the industries subject to environmental laws.

Thirty years ago, when the federal government required the auto industry to reduce toxic air pollutants, industry and the federal Chamber of Commerce claimed that the auto industry would collapse. Instead, it grew and more cars were put on the road than ever before.

Global warming

While we should take pride in the environmental work we have accomplished, this is no time to rest on our laurels. We are now faced with one of the biggest issues yet to be tackled. There is overwhelming scientific evidence that widespread climate change will affect the health and welfare of every New Mexican.

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Global warming pollution is causing hotter global temperatures, more extreme weather such as droughts and floods, increased forest fires, negative health effects, and other serious impacts. The costs of failing to address the impacts of climate change are staggeringly high. A recent study by the Climate Leadership Initiative showed that the cost to New Mexico citizens of higher temperatures, reduced snow pack, forest fires, droughts, energy costs and health care costs will average $3,430 annually per family by 2020.

Is this the kind of legacy we want to leave our children? It would be irresponsible for us to ignore climate change and pass these problems onto the next generation.

As one of the leading states in the nation on climate change, I am proud of the work we have accomplished to reduce greenhouse gases and promote clean energy jobs in New Mexico. Jobs are growing rapidly in the clean energy sector and we need to continue policies to nurture this young but growing industry.

New Mexico now produces much more electricity from renewable energy sources and has many more clean energy manufacturing and installation jobs than when Gov. Richardson took office seven years ago.

Water quality

We should also be proud of our accomplishments in the protection of water quality. New Mexico has been on the forefront of preserving the critically important protections that have been afforded by state and federal laws. Several decades ago, the nation’s waters were in jeopardy. With the passage of the federal Clean Water Act and the state Water Quality Act, we’ve restored and protected the water supply that is the lifeblood of our state and the nation.

In New Mexico, an arid state, we cannot afford to pollute even the smallest amount of our precious water supply. Clean water is a basic right, and must be protected now and in the future.

As we reflect on the history of Earth Day, we must make a commitment to ourselves and future generations that we will continue to meet the most important environmental challenges we face. On Earth Day, we must celebrate our past successes in caring for the planet.

After that, we must continue to work together for the good of the environment and the economy.

Curry is the cabinet secretary for the New Mexico Environment Department.