Transformative Change Comes From Us

We're living through a moment that demands clarity, courage, and action.

Across the country, those in power are doubling down – attacking our fundamental rights, bedrock environmental protections, and the safety of our most vulnerable community members. And here in New Mexico, oil and gas interests continue to pour money into our elections and back harmful bills that would allow them to continue polluting our land, water, and air while our communities pay the price.

And we're not staying quiet – we're organizing.

Last weekend, members of YUCCA's Youth Steering Committee came together in Ruidoso for a multi-day Summer Steering Committee Retreat to ground ourselves in strategy, community, and the relationships that make this work possible.

Surrounded by the mountains and trees, we made space together to reflect on the road we've traveled, map out our vision for the months ahead, and deepen our commitment to each other and the fight for climate justice.

Because the work ahead won't be easy – and we're in it for the long haul.

That's why we spent this retreat reconnecting, strategizing, and expanding our vision together. From long conversations about building lasting power for our movement to shared meals, friendship bracelets, and late-night laughter, every moment was a reminder of what we're fighting for – and the kind of movement we're building together.

As a youth-led organization fighting for real climate justice, we know that transformative change doesn't from performative politics or the systems built to maintain the status quo – it comes from us. From young people who refuse to back down and the organizing we do to defend our futures and build something better.

And right now, that organizing matters more than ever. We're up against corporate polluters that treat our futures as disposable. A system that continues to prioritize profits over people. And lawmakers that speak about climate justice when it's politically convenient, only to turn around and prop up the same extractive industries causing this crisis.

But we're also witnessing something else: Young people rising up. Communities refusing to be silent. Movements growing stronger.

We know that the months ahead will demand grassroots people-powered organizing, courageous action, and bold vision – and we're ready to meet the moment.

YUCCA URGES THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT BOARD TO ADOPT A STRONG HEAT STANDARD TO PROTECT NM WORKERS

Over the past few weeks, we've written to you about Safe Work For All – a campaign from organizations across the state who are calling on the Governor, the New Mexico Environment Department, and the Environmental Improvement Board to protect 250,000+ workers across New Mexico who are at risk for heat-related illness.

As New Mexicans face climate disruption, rising temperatures, and life-threatening heat, we can't allow private interests and industry to ignore the impacts of the climate crisis while sacrificing worker safety, public health, and environmental justice.

That's why Ennedith López, YUCCA's Policy Campaign Manager, recently submitted public comment urging the Environmental Improvement Board to pass a strong, enforceable heat standard to protect the workers who are the backbone of our state's economy and future.

Interested in learning more and taking action? Read our full public comment below, then visit safework4all.org to get involved and join the fight!

"Dear Environmental Improvement Board,

My name is Ennedith López, and I am submitting this comment on behalf of Youth United for Climate Crisis Action (YUCCA) as their Policy Campaign Manager. YUCCA is a statewide environmental and climate justice organization led by Black, Indigenous, and Youth of Color fighting for a just transition and a viable future for our communities. We are writing in support of the Occupational Health & Safety Standard with recommendations to better improve the petition to ensure the utmost protections for workers. This is a basic human and fundamental right that the state should implement to ensure the dignity and protection of workers across the state. 

As the climate crisis continues to intensify and worsen, marginalized communities and working-class people in New Mexico are on the frontlines of its debilitating impacts on our local ecosystems and environment, public health, and social/economic well-being. Heat illnesses should not be treated as a personal obligation but rather as the social responsibility of employers. Ensuring the protection of our health and heat exposure is a step to creating safe working conditions for our communities, who have endured this heat without life-saving protections. 

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), on average, regional temperatures across the Southwest are expected to rise by 2.5° to 5.5°F by 2041-2070, with a projection of summer heatwaves becoming longer and hotter. In New Mexico, our summer temperatures for this year are projected to be 4.1°F warmer than average. The increase in rising temperatures is not a mistake; lawmakers make an active policy decision to further incentivize polluting industries like the fossil fuel industry responsible for 75 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and 90 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions. Figure 4.2 from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Change & Social Vulnerability in the United States: A Focus on Six Impacts report displays the projected increased premature mortality rates due to rising temperatures. 

Air pollution, wildfires, and smoke will only further exacerbate heat illnesses and preventable deaths. According to the NM Health Department, since April 1, there have been at least 51 heat-related emergency room visits across New Mexico. In 2023, approximately 900 emergency room visits were related to heat. A just and Equitable Transition must address the mortality rates associated with rising temperatures. The heat standard provides an opportunity to act and begin saving lives now.  

The NMED’s proposed rules’ incorporation for best practices and science-based solutions with inclusion of indoor and outdoor workers, need to incorporate heat injury and illness prevention plans, providing comprehensive worker training, preventive strategies like water, shade/cooling rooms, paid rest breaks, acclimation, and the use of trigger temperatures. If not implemented, we can expect workers to face job insecurity and lost pay because of heat illnesses. To guarantee that we are actively preventing deaths and centering workers in our best interests, the rule can be improved by: 

• Requiring a standard of protection from retaliation as a part of heat injury and illness prevention plans and worker training to ensure workers and employers alike are able to enforce the standard. 

• More clarity on emergency procedures is required if severe heat-related emergencies occur, so employers and workers can respond quickly and adequately.

• Ensure that exemptions for specific workplaces, specifically buildings and vehicles, have functioning cooling controls and systems. 

• NMED should consult more intentionally with non-managerial workers regarding heat injury and illness prevention plans. 

• Requiring training to be in person, with opportunities to ask questions and re-deliver the trainings.

We cannot allow industries and private interests to undermine the devastating impacts of the climate crisis at the expense of worker safety and protection, public health, and our environment. If we continue to try to operate as usual, our communities will face serious life-threatening consequences. Inaction will further cement a cruel practice of environmental racism at the hands of the state of so-called New Mexico. We must center people over profit and act in the people's interest.

We stand in solidarity with young people and workers, and we urge the Environmental Improvement Board to proceed with the rulemaking and adopt the recommendations from advocates and directly impacted communities. We must act immediately to ensure worker safety across New Mexico.

TAKE ACTION FOR SAFE WORK FOR ALL

MOVEMENT NEWS: "IS THE OIL AND GAS BOOM HARMING NEW MEXICO STUDENTS'?

During the 2025 Legislative Session, YUCCA was proud to stand in support of House Bill 35 – Children's Health Protection Zones – a bill that would have helped to protect young people across New Mexico from the impacts of oil and gas pollution by establishing one-mile health protection zones surrounding schools.

But this critical bill was killed after heavy opposition from the oil and gas industry and their allies in the Legislature.

Now, a new investigation by Searchlight New Mexico confirms what we've been saying all along: tens of thousands of students across New Mexico are vulnerable to pollution from nearby oil and gas production sites – and young people are already suffering the consequences in the form of health impacts like headaches, nausea, nosebleeds, and shortness of breath that impact their ability to learn and focus in school.

As the article highlights, this harm has far-reaching consequences – "...research has found that student learning is directly harmed by air pollution from fossil fuels – even when socioeconomic factors are taken into account."

This is why we fight. Whether we're showing up in the streets or making our voices heard at the Legislature to demand that lawmakers stop sacrificing our communities to corporate polluters, we'll continue to fight for a future where the well-being of our young people comes before industry profits.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE FROM SEARCHLIGHT NEW MEXICO