Athena Christodoulou Senate District 21 | Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter
The Permian Basin Climate Justice Coalition has issued a statement in response to the Bureau of Land Management's lease sale on June 30, 2022. The sale involved over 520 acres of public and ancestral tribal lands in New Mexico's Permian Basin, with additional leases across several other states.
The coalition highlights that oil and gas development in the Permian Basin has increased significantly over the past decade, producing climate pollution equivalent to 24 coal plants. They describe this increase in fracking as a potential "climate bomb" and emphasize the need to protect the global environment from catastrophic climate events like the wildfires affecting New Mexico.
As global conflicts continue and gas prices rise, the coalition criticizes oil companies for holding unused leases while new lands are opened for drilling. They argue that this perpetuates an economy reliant on oil, characterized by boom-and-bust cycles, at a time when focus should be on addressing climate change and investing in renewable energy.
In New Mexico, thousands live near active oil and gas operations. In Lea County alone, there has been a significant increase in residents living close to wells over recent years. The coalition views this lease sale as evidence of what they call the Biden administration’s "broken promise" to tackle climate issues and address environmental injustices impacting marginalized communities.
They call for an end to leasing on public lands if federal climate goals are to be met. The coalition represents concerned communities advocating for a transition away from oil and gas production towards more sustainable practices.
