Environment

Protecting Utah's air, water, and future as environmental risks grow more immediate and expensive

Image courtesy of Mick Haupt.

The courage of “&” in environmental stewardship

Utah’s environmental challenges are urgent and tangible. Prolonged drought, dwindling water supplies, escalating air pollution, and the alarming decline of the Great Salt Lake threaten public health, economic stability, and overall quality of life. The courage of “&” means recognizing the true costs of environmental action versus the far greater costs of inaction; it emphasizes that responsible stewardship is essential for Utah’s future.

Financial security

Environmental degradation imposes significant economic burdens on Utahns. The shrinking Great Salt Lake jeopardizes industries reliant on mineral extraction, agriculture, tourism, and outdoor recreation, while escalating public health costs linked to dust pollution and toxic exposure, including arsenic from exposed lakebed sediments, are a pressing concern. Poor air quality exacerbated by winter inversions leads to increased healthcare spending, decreased productivity, and lower workforce participation. Addressing these challenges demands immediate investment; delaying action only shifts greater costs to families, businesses, and future generations.

Human dignity

Clean air, safe water, and a healthy environment are fundamental to human dignity. Communities exposed to toxic dust, polluted air, and unsafe water suffer disproportionately, particularly children, seniors, low-income families, and those with chronic health conditions. Utahns should never have to choose between economic opportunity and their health or between staying in their communities and breathing clean air. Protecting dignity means ensuring that environmental risks are not unfairly borne by those least able to mitigate them.

Real solutions

• Restore and stabilize the Great Salt Lake: Commit to measurable water-saving targets prioritizing inflows to the lake, recognizing its critical role in public health, climate moderation, and economic stability.
  

• Modernize water use across sectors: Update agricultural, municipal, and industrial water practices through incentives, pricing reforms, and infrastructure improvements that reflect Utah’s arid reality.
  

• Invest in drought resilience and long-term planning: Align growth, land use, and water availability to ensure development decisions remain sustainable and do not exceed resource capabilities.
  

• Reduce air pollution and mitigate inversion impacts: Strengthen emissions controls, expand clean transportation options, and implement policies to lower particulate pollution during inversion events, protecting public health year-round.
  

• Proactively address environmental health risks: Monitor and mitigate toxic dust exposure from lakebeds and industrial sites, prioritizing early intervention to prevent long-term health and economic harm.