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Conciliatory Climate Change Measure Advances To Senate

Judy Fahys/KUER News
A coalition of students, advocates and businesses worked together on HCR7, a concurrent resolution on environmental and economic stewardship. The bipartisan effort focuses on tackling climate change. The measure heads now to the Utah Senate.

Climate change may be a slow-moving threat, but a measure to recognize it shot through the Utah House Monday in flash, in minutes and without controversy.

Rep. Becky Edwards, R-North Salt Lake, sponsored HCR7, a resolution that had 32 cosponsors from both parties. Her brief floor speech emphasized the value of collaboration and innovation.

“We can continue to grow our economy,” she said, “be good stewards of our natural resources as we work together to seek solutions that will create a bright future for our state.”

Even though climate change is a hot-button issue in Utah, there were no speeches for or against Edwards’ resolution.

The vote was 46-24, and the bill heads now to the Utah Senate.

Judy Fahys has reported in Utah for two decades, covering politics, government and business before taking on environmental issues. She loves covering Utah, where petroleum-pipeline spills, the nation’s radioactive legacy and other types of pollution provide endless fodder for stories. Previously, she worked for the Salt Lake Tribune in Utah, and reported on the nation’s capital for States News Service and the Scripps League newspaper chain. She is a longtime member of the Society of Environmental Journalists and Investigative Reporters and Editors. She also spent an academic year as a research fellow in the Knight Science Journalism program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In her spare time, she enjoys being out in the environment, especially hiking, gardening and watercolor painting.
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