44th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2000

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO DIRECT THE APPROPRIATE INTERIM COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER CREATION OF THE OFFICE OF STATE CLIMATOLOGIST.

WHEREAS, weather and climate play extremely influential and significant roles in the natural world, and knowledge of climate and climatic processes is important to the health and well-being of New Mexicans; and

WHEREAS, to meet the need for climatic knowledge, forty-nine of the fifty United States have each established an office of state climatologist; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico is a leader in the use of climatic information to improve agricultural production and assess the effect of climate on the natural environment; and

WHEREAS, the purpose of an office of state climatologist would be to assist the state in understanding and responding to natural and man-induced climatic processes and their implications, to cooperate with the federal government in activities relating to climate studies and advisory services and to promote and disseminate a general knowledge of the climatology of the state;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico legislative council be requested to direct the appropriate interim committee to consider creation of the office of a state climatologist, which would assess the effect of climate on the natural environment, agricultural production, land and natural resources and human health, and make recommendations on key issues such as financing the collection and dissemination of climatic information to educate the national population and the tourist industry about the healthy and unique climate of New Mexico that makes the state not only an exemplary place to live and visit, but also an ideal place to locate industry and associated jobs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the New Mexico legislative council members.