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By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. — As spring temperatures in New Mexico climb earlier and higher each year, organizers of the Earth Day Festival NM say the need for climate awareness and practical solutions has never been more urgent.
“The main goal of the festival is to educate people on the small actions they can take that will make a dramatic difference in reducing their carbon footprint and the effects of climate change,” says Joanie Griffin, one of the event organizers of the Earth Day Festival NM.
The annual event brings together environmental organizations, local businesses, educators and community members for a day centered on sustainability, clean energy and hands-on learning. This year’s festival will feature more than 100 information booths, along with a wide range of activities designed to engage attendees of all ages.
Among the highlights are “energy experts that can help people find rebates and tax credits that are available based on their particular situation,” says Griffin. The event will also include a youth arts contest, animal adoption opportunities, wildlife sanctuaries with birds of prey, informational speakers every half hour, food trucks, an electric vehicle concourse, a climbing wall for kids and live music.
Organizers are also hoping to screen a documentary connected to Robert Redford. “It’s not 100% confirmed but we are hoping to show The Way of the Rain, a 50-minute documentary produced by Robert Redford’s wife,” says Griffin.
The festival comes at a time when climate concerns are becoming increasingly visible across the state. “It’s the end of March and we’ve already seen temperatures in the high 80s and low 90s,” says Griffin. “Climate change is real and getting worse. We all have to worry about long-term impacts to the earth. This is the lowest snow pack on record, which means the rivers will be low this summer and fire danger will be high.”
For Griffin, the goal is not just awareness but action. “My goal is that people leave inspired and ready to take at least one action,” says Griffin. “And that people that are looking to make big purchases like an electric vehicle and an E-bike, mini splits or solar leave with needed information on how to save money on those purchases.”
That focus on practical solutions is reflected in the organizations and sponsors participating in the festival, including 350 New Mexico and Nusenda Credit Union.
Stefi Weisburd, who handles communications and electrification work for grassroots organization 350 New Mexico, explains that the group’s mission is rooted in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and accelerating the transition to clean energy.
(Courtesy Earth Day NM Festival)
“We’ve added so much CO2 and methane and other greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere at an unprecedented rate, and that’s what’s causing these high temperatures,” says Weisburd. “We would like to go back to 350 parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and we have the technology to do that.”
At the festival, 350 New Mexico will focus on helping residents navigate the often confusing process of making their homes more energy efficient.
“We have this table there, and then we can point people to different resources,” says Weisburd. “We’re all very happy to help people navigate all this.”
A key part of that effort is a team of volunteer “energy experts” who will offer guidance based on real-world experience. “Those are people who have already installed solar or induction cooktops or done air sealing to give free advice to other people who want to take those steps,” says Weisburd.
(Courtesy Earth Day NM Festival)
Weisburd explains that one of the biggest challenges for residents is understanding where to begin. “There’s a lot of confusing stuff to try to know where to start with all this,” says Weisburd.
Cost can also be a barrier, particularly for lower income households, although she noted that new programs are helping expand access. “There are some great no-cost programs for folks coming through the state,” says Weisburd.
At the same time, even those with financial resources can struggle with the complexity of the process. “It’s such a confusing process, and it requires some learning,” says Weisburd.
Ultimately, she hopes visitors leave with a sense of possibility. “I think a sense of empowerment,” says Weisburd. “There are things that we can do and they really do make a difference.”
That same emphasis on accessibility and community impact is shared by Nusenda Credit Union, this year’s title sponsor of the festival.
“This is our third year supporting this event and we have watched it grow,” says Sara Keller, chief community engagement officer at Nusenda. “For us at the credit union, being the presenting sponsor for this year’s Earth Day festival really feels like a culmination of a bunch of our values coming to fruition.”
Keller explains that Nusenda’s involvement is closely tied to its broader commitment to environmental and community initiatives. “One of Nusenda’s funding priorities is environment and wildlife, and a big piece of that has to do with our commitment to green energy and environmentally stable investments,” says Keller.
At the festival, Nusenda will have a booth staffed with experts who can help attendees explore financing options for sustainable upgrades. “We will have our lender there to talk about both solar and our green lending programs as well as our other green energy initiatives,” says Keller.
The organization supports a range of efforts, from solar lending to partnerships with groups bringing renewable energy to underserved communities. “We partner with an organization called Native Renewables through our micro-lending program to provide electricity to individual homes on the Navajo Nation and in rural communities across the state,” says Keller.
For Keller, participating in the festival is about more than visibility. It is about creating access. “Events like this are really about community-building and giving people opportunities to participate or to learn about something that they may not otherwise have,” says Keller.
(Courtesy Earth Day NM Festival)
She added that increasing awareness of clean energy options can have a direct impact on people’s daily lives. “It feels really important to be able to give exposure to those types of energy and cost savings to our communities as a whole,” says Keller.
As climate challenges grow more immediate, organizers and participants alike say the festival offers a space where information, resources and inspiration come together.
For Griffin, that combination is essential. “If everyone took one small action it would have a profoundly positive impact,” says Griffin.
With its mix of education, hands-on support and community engagement, the Earth Day Festival NM aims to turn that idea into reality, one conversation and one action at a time.
The Earth Day Festival NM is scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 26, at Balloon Fiesta Park in Albuquerque. The free, family friendly event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is open to the public. In addition to more than 100 exhibitors, attendees can explore educational booths, live performances, guest speakers, food vendors and interactive activities throughout the day.
More information, including a full schedule of events and participating organizations, can be found on the festival’s website (earthdayfestivalnm.org).
(Courtesy Earth Day Festival NM)
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