Greenhouse Emissions

As many of you know, along with being a part-time life coach for adults on the autism spectrum, I was also for many years a geographer, cartographer, and environmental scientist.

In the early years, environmental data was sketchy at best and rarely well mapped. I am amazed by what is being done nowadays and hopeful that having accessible, good data will make a difference.

Check out this very cool, interactive map of greenhouse gas emissions.

Note that you can toggle between gas types, industry sectors and locations:

There’s even free downloadable data.

Now we can all see the incriminating data and insist, “Somebody do something about the Permian Basin!”

OMG, Permian Texas ranked #1 (that means worst – in the world). Worse than Russia. Worse than Iran. Worse than China.

And immediately across the state border to the northwest, Permian New Mexico ranked #7.

The long term solution is to reduce our use of oil and gas down to next to nothing. But meanwhile there is a lot that can be done to reduce emissions. The technology involved costs money – but irreparable harm to the climate costs an unfathomable amount of money.

Unfortunately, New Mexico and Texas environmental laws are very industry-friendly. And the laws they do have are not well enforced. When I worked for the Air Quality Bureau in New Mexico, I got an inside look at the enforcement of the air quality laws.

In our department, we were the people who were supposed to be regulating the oil and gas industry in New Mexico. We were the people who were supposed to make sure that our facilities weren’t causing some of the worst emissions in the world.

Sure, we slapped a few fines on some of the worst offenders. But other times the Bureau looked the other way. Why? For one thing, the Bureau Chief was afraid of getting sued by the oil and gas industry. Yes, she told me that, herself, in person, when I objected when she shelved some incriminating data that one of my employees had discovered.

But I honestly can’t blame her. Why should she have to deal with personal lawsuits? Almost everyone who works for the State of New Mexico makes shit for money. I was hiring good, smart scientists with master’s degrees but only allowed to offer barely more than minimum wage. It’s not worth it. The system isn’t set up right. Government employees who are making far less than they could make working in industry, should not have to worry about the oil and gas industry ruining their lives if they are courageous enough to do their job.

And of course, oil and gas is the biggest industry in New Mexico. Without it, the government and all its services would collapse. So you can imagine the conflict of interest there.

To send Kristina a comment, email turning51bykristina@gmail.com.

Kristina’s Website: Life Coaching for Adults with Autism