Biden names 2 New Mexicans to environmental panel

Jun. 1—Two New Mexico residents will bring a bit of the Rio Grande to the Potomac.

President Joe Biden has appointed Jade Begay and Richard Moore to the first White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council. The group will recommend ways to address current and historic environmental issues.

Environmental justice focuses on low-income and minority communities that are more likely to live in polluted areas.

Begay, from Tesuque Pueblo, directs climate justice campaigns for NDN Collective, an Indigenous advocacy group.

"Growing up, as a pueblo community every spring, we would do offerings, clean the ditches together, and make way for an abundant growing season," Begay said. "I was very mindful of when the river was flowing and how the apple orchards were thriving. Now the river that ran through our village doesn't run at all."

Begay serves on the Amazon Watch directors' board. The group works to protect the Amazon rainforest and Indigenous rights. Begay has traveled to Indigenous communities in the Amazon and the Arctic to learn about climate change.

"It's important for us to learn how we get investments to frontline communities equitably," she said. "A lot of times we see federal dollars given to reservations or tribes and those funding dollars get stuck in bureaucracy. We also need to engage with grassroots groups and community leaders."

Richard Moore, co-founder of the Los Jardines Institute in Albuquerque, is recognized as a pioneer of local environmental justice. Moore advocates for South Valley residents, who live near several salvage yards and hazardous waste facilities.

"Unfortunately, it's not by accident that many of the polluting facilities are located in communities of color here in Albuquerque and in the state of New Mexico," Moore said. "As our work spread out from the South Valley, we realized it wasn't just happening in our community."

Moore supported efforts to preserve 500 acres in the South Valley, a property which is now the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge.

He directed the Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice in Albuquerque for 17 years. Moore was lead organizer of Southwest Organizing Project for 12 years.

"We've made it clear that we're not interested in Band-Aids right now," Moore said. "If the administration is sincere about really getting to the root of many problems and challenges, then the policies and regulations have to speak to that."

Theresa Davis is a Report for America corps member covering water and the environment for the Albuquerque Journal.