Faith Leaders Walk 328 Miles for New Mexico's Climate Future

Three faith leaders just proved that pilgrimage isn't only about ancient traditions. It's about walking toward hope, one dusty mile at a time.

On January 12, Rev. Clara Sims and two fellow environmentalists from New Mexico Interfaith Power & Light began a 328-mile journey on foot from Carlsbad to Santa Fe. For 25 days, they walked past oil wells, through remote ranch lands, and deep into the desert to advocate for the Clear Horizons Act, a bill that would have dramatically cut the state's greenhouse gas emissions.

The trio started their journey in the heart of contradiction: the Permian Basin, America's highest-producing oil field. In Carlsbad, a town where 30,000 residents depend heavily on the industry, they found nuance instead of easy answers.

One retired oil worker shared his story after more than 40 years in the field. He's grateful for his pension but worries about friends whose health suffered from exposure to toxic chemicals like hydrogen sulfide, which escapes when gas is flared from wells.

Bernard, the group's executive director, experienced the reality firsthand when her eyes started stinging from the air during their walk. The Centers for Disease Control confirms that hydrogen sulfide exposure can cause chronic health problems and may increase miscarriage risk.

The bill they championed would have required a 45 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 2005 levels by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050. On February 11, the Senate defeated it when several Democrats joined Republicans to vote no.

The Ripple Effect

For Sims, the associate minister at First Congressional United Church of Christ Albuquerque, success was never just about one vote. "Taking an act of faith like this means that we believe in the power of things that aren't totally measurable," she explained.

She's thinking about ripple effects that might not show up for years or even decades. Maybe someone watching their journey will find courage to take their own action down the line.

New Mexico faces particular climate risks as global temperatures rise. The state is already experiencing a historic megadrought that has depleted major waterways, including the Rio Grande.

The three walkers represent one of three dozen organizations in the Clear Horizons New Mexico coalition. Their boots on the ground literally connected communities along the route, bringing conversations about climate and health directly to people's doorsteps.

Seeds planted in the desert take time to grow, but they're remarkably resilient once they do.