Dec 18 - McClatchy-Tribune Business News Formerly Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News - John Fleck Albuquerque Journal, N.M.

Momentum is building for federal action on climate change, said Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M.

But despite the tectonic political shift caused by last month's election, it remains a tough legislative road, according to Udall.

"Even with a Democratic majority, there is still significant opposition in Washington," Udall told a group of Albuquerque lawyers Friday during a discussion of climate change and law sponsored by the State Bar of New Mexico.

Udall has sponsored legislation to try to reduce emissions from climate-changing greenhouse gases from the oil and gas we burn, saying changes are critical for New Mexico's future.

Under current scenarios, he said, New Mexico's climate will be as hot and dry by the middle of the 21st century as Sonora and Chihuahua in northern Mexico are today. "Our snowpack would be gone," Udall told the audience. "We would have more severe drought."

"I have listened to the scientists," Udall said, "and the loudest message I have heard is that we must get started."

Udall has been pounding on this subject for some time. He introduced greenhouse legislation in March, but spent years before that trying to find a Republican cosponsor. Eventually, Wisconsin Republican Thomas Petri signed on.

Despite the shift to Democratic control of the House and Senate, there are conservative Democrats skeptical of the wisdom of greenhouse gas reductions, Udall said.

But there is political momentum behind energy policy legislation in the coming Congress.

"I think there's going to be a new push for an energy policy," Udall said. That creates an opportunity for those who support alternative energy and other policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to the northern New Mexico congressman.