Due to climate change, Great Salt Lake and many other rivers are drying at unprecedented rates. Rep. Doug Owens is sponsoring H.B. 195 to modify provisions relating to local government land use plans. Municipalities and counties will be required to consider developmental impacts on wildfires, health, welfare and energy conservation.

Policymakers must consider the environmental impacts of land management. This will help lessen the regression of Utah’s climate. Ignoring the problem will just lead to scary and severe effects on our state.

A Serious Threat 

Climate change presents a serious threat to mankind and human flourishing. It affects our physical environment and economic and social conditions. Climate activists from all over the world have urged policymakers to take action before it’s too late.

The Bureau of Land Management is taking strides to help stagnate climate change. BLM proposed the Public Lands Rule to establish a framework for protecting and restoring healthy landscapes, abundant wildfire habitat, clean water and balanced decision-making.

Strides like these may be what is needed to control the poor manmade decisions that are leading to our own demise.

Responsible and sustainable land planning is a crucial step in ensuring change will be made.

Consequences 

As more Utah policymakers and officials experience the effects that climate change is having on our great state, they are opting for more sustainable development.

Due to the Industrial Revolution, the U.S. has done whatever it can to encourage economic prosperity, despite the horrendous repercussions it has on the planet. Practices such as deforestation and urbanization remove the land’s natural ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which increases greenhouse gas emissions.

We must remember that economic prosperity and environmental sustainability are not mutually exclusive goals. Ignoring the climate problem brings about bigger consequences. Though transitioning to a cleaner economy will entail short-term costs, delaying it will be even more costly. Rather than simply aiming to grow our economy, we must also aim to sustain our state and all its beauties.

The NRPA found that because of climate change, many recreational activities took a hit. Snow seasons are shrinking. Commercial operators are seeing many more lost snow days. This is caused by the highly unpredictable weather and shorter shoulder seasons. The economic impacts of low snow can total $1-2 billion a year.

It is our responsibility as human beings to save and maintain our planet as long as possible. To do so, we must begin by rethinking our approach to land use and prosperity.

Time for Sustainability 

Due to the country’s continuous urbanization, we will not be able to reach the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets. We must prioritize developing more human-centered architecture. Such neighborhoods and architecture will help adapt to climate change, improve public health and promote access to recreation.

Focusing our land use measures on mitigation and adaptation will help slow this problem down. Land mitigation focuses on changing practices that increase GHG emissions and reduce environmental damage. These efforts involve building at greater density with mixed land uses and creating transportation adaptations.

Sustainable land use will create better climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, water resource management and food security. The United Nations found that within the next 30 years, food supply and food security will be severely threatened if no actions are taken to address and reduce climate change.

Holding our policymakers and lawmakers accountable for their lack of action will be what propels climate prosperity. Dutch activists successfully rallied the Dutch Supreme Court to issue that the government has a human rights obligation to urgently reduce GHG emissions.

Save Utah 

Climate change is happening in Utah whether we like it or not. 

Time is short. Creating sustainable and environmentally conscious land management plans will encourage our residents to live more sustainable and flourishing lives. 

This will affect everyone one way or another. We cannot avoid the detrimental impacts that this will have on our future and later generations. We are responsible for what has happened to our beloved planet. 

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@iragilume