HJR 21. Where are our leaders leading us to?

Yesterday I spoke against a joint resolution at the State Capital that urges Utah to withdraw from the Western Climate Initiative(WCI). Instead it passed with only two dissenting votes. The WCI's intent is to work together to identify, evaluate, and implement policies to tackle climate change and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. My statement was geared to stress the need to remain a part of the WCI, to work within the region and defend the health of our shared environment for the sake of our children and future generations through the reduction of CO2 emissions. This is counter intuitive to the intent of this joint resolution,(HJR 21)which sees it more important to defend and utilize Utah's fossil fuels for short term economic gain, without considering the impact of such action. Among other issues, the resolution states that efforts to reduce emissions will be minimally effective at best with "...tremendous economic growth to be sacrificed for little global warming gain." We need to push for a global approach to solving the problems related to the CO2 concentration in our atmosphere, instead of protecting the interests of a segment of the people who believe that we have a right to exploit "our" non-renewable resources at the expense of our collective well being, for economic reasons. It is irresponsible and disrespectful to the planet and life as we know it. We must improve the dialogue with our local government to develop a greater understanding of the need to shift away from fossil fuels and to embrace a new renewable economy which has great potential in Utah. It is critical to continue to stress that future generations will be forced to face the problems we are creating, and speak out against these actions and others like it.

Utah House takes a step in the Wrong Direction

Yesterday in Utah, the House Natural Resources Committee approved a resolution urging the Environmental Protection Agency to drop plans to regulate the pollution blamed for climate change 10-1.  This perspective evidenced by this vote by is astonishing and shocking.  How can there be a disconnect between the pollution blamed for climate change and the ever increasing issues we face in our environment...  The poor air quality and the associated health risks we experience here in the Salt Lake Valley; the acres of forests that are being killed off by beetle infestation because the winters aren't cold enough, or the pollutants that end up contaminating our water supplies, among a huge array of other issues?  The health of our planet, and all life is affected by behavior such as this.  HJR012 is an insult to the people of Utah for what it represents, and sets a poor example to the rest of the nation.  At this critical time when we need to accept responsibility and take action, this 10-1 vote shows blatant disregard for the long term environmental problems we must solve, for the well being of the generations that follow.