In 2007, former University of New Mexico President David Schmidly committed the University to eventual carbon neutrality by signing the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment, which led to the release of the Climate Action Plan in 2009.
UNM committed to mapping the reduction of 80% of the Albuquerque campus 2006 emissions levels by 2030, according to the plan’s executive summary.
With five years until 2030, UNM has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions from 2006 but has yet to meet its climate goals.
Between the years 2006 and 2024, UNM Albuquerque campus saw a 11% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, according to the UNM 2024 Greenhouse Gas Inventory.
To reach an 80% reduction of 2006 emissions by 2030, UNM would have to decrease its emissions by 13.8% each year till 2030 — approximately 24 times more than its current decreasing emissions rate of 0.58% each year.
The Inventory reports that when UNM’s 19% increase in square footage is factored in, there is a 25% decrease in UNM campus building greenhouse gas intensity — the emissions emitted by individual campus buildings — between 2006-24.
UNM Main Campus square footage grew by 1,520,000 square feet from 2006-24, according to the Inventory.
Anne Jakle, UNM Office of Sustainability Director, said that since 2006, UNM has increased efficiency in new and existing buildings, with 29 buildings becoming Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified.
In 2024, UNM reported a Silver rating in The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System administered by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
“The university community has shown a very clear commitment over time to climate action,” Jakle said. “You can look through the historical record of student, staff and faculty resolutions and items that it is something that's been important to our campus community and our state for a long time.”
During the 1990s, UNM spent $60 million to upgrade the utility system, which included two new boilers, a new gas turbine and 30-inch pipes to improve the chilled water distribution. This new system reduced energy use by 30%, according to a UNM Climate Change Timeline.
Jeff Zumwalt, Director of UNM Utility Services, said the system produces one half to two thirds of the campus electricity needs.
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Jakle said that while this system reduced UNM’s greenhouse gas emissions, it is still responsible for the majority of emissions on campus.
“If we want to look at decarbonization in a really meaningful way, we have to address those emissions,” Jakle said. “So what utility services and Lobo Energy have been doing is scoping a geoexchange project.”
Zumwalt said the geoexchange project could reduce emissions by 80-90%.
“So you put heat into the ground in the summertime, and the ground slowly gets a little bit warmer, and then in the wintertime, you pull the heat back out,” Zumwalt said. “It's a more efficient way to heat and cool a campus.”
UNM is currently working on a strategic framework called UNM 2040, with sustainability, including environmental sustainability, being a goal.
In Fall 2024, UNM launched a Sustainability Strategic Plan that is currently in Phase 3 of development. The plan seeks to guide the University’s approach to future sustainability efforts, according to the UNM Office of Sustainability.
Feleecia Guillen — climate justice organizer, UNM alum and former member of UNM Leadership in Environmental Action and Foresight — said that at first UNM’s 2040’s sustainability goal was only focused on financial sustainability.
Guillen said that the students from UNM LEAF had conversations with UNM administrators to make environmental sustainability part of the UNM 2040 strategic plan.
“With a lot of these conversations, they actually did, finally, include this bullet point of sustaining the future of our environment,” Guillen said.
Guillen said that LEAF’s most notable campaign was divestment from fossil fuels.
In 2021, UNM had $29 million worth of investments in fossil fuel companies, according to Source NM.
In February 2025, UNM Regent Jack Fortner told The Daily Lobo that UNM could not divest from fossil fuels, as the University is supported by oil and gas money from the Permian Basin.
UNM LEAF collaborated with Jakle on the plan, including through surveys and focus groups of the campus community, Guillen said.
UNM LEAF is currently asking the University to acknowledge a climate emergency, and passed a resolution through ASUNM senate supporting their efforts.
“UNM does need to acknowledge the climate emergency, because unless we do, there's going to be no real funding, no real actionable steps that other than Anne (Jakle) herself will take to address environmental and climate issues at the University of New Mexico,” Guillen said.
Leila Chapa is the social media editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at socialmedia@dailylobo.com or on X @lchapa06
Paloma Chapa is the multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at multimedia@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @paloma_chapa8
Leila Chapa is the social media editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at socialmedia@dailylobo.com or on X @lchapa06
Paloma Chapa is the multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at multimedia@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @paloma_chapa88
