Methane Matters to CAVU
Reducing methane emissions from the oil and gas sector is one of the fastest, most cost-effective ways to slow climate change in the short term.

Why Methane?

Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas. While it exists in the atmosphere in lower concentrations than carbon dioxide, it is exponentially more potent as an atmospheric heat trapper. While it comes from a variety of sources, including agriculture and landfills, the most significant and preventable source of methane in New Mexico is from oil and gas development. In fact, according to Taxpayers for Common Sense 93% of methane waste in New Mexico is AVOIDABLE. Furthermore, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change commonly known as the IPCC, reported in November of 2018 that methane seepage from oil and gas is the number avoidable contributor to climate change and is something we need to urgently act upon now.

oil and gas flare burning
Oil and gas well in Permian Base. Blue sky with lit flare and tanker trucks present

Our Approach

CAVU recently completed a media campaign called Unearthed Series: Exploring oil and gas issues in New Mexico. The series interviewed more than 90 people from Governors to oil and gas workers in the field to understand the benefits and the costs of current oil and gas laws to New Mexico communities. Reaching more than one million viewers and hosting 6 forums and 4 podcasts Unearthed made the conversation on methane a major talking point in the gubernatorial race. On the heels of Unearthed’s success, CAVU initiated a public petition supporting methane regulations for the State of New Mexico, part of a cooperative effort with dozens of other organizations that culminated in Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s executive order to create a methane waste rule and reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030.

Next Steps

CAVU believes that lasting solutions to complex problems are
developed in successful, collaborative partnerships. when entities on opposing sides of an
issue understand the driving principles and values that shape their opposition’s
perspectives. CAVU’s is committed to working with its partners and the state of New Mexico
and help support and develop practical statewide rules to methane capture from oil and gas
development. More about how you can be involved can be found at our website dedicated
to this issue MethaneMattersNM.org.

Oil and gas white collar worker quoted at his desk
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