The great outdoors has been a distinctive part of Utah’s culture and identity, but recent disappointments in environmental care mean we must remind ourselves of that.

The actions of the lawmakers and leadership in our state have not demonstrated a concern for environmental stewardship, especially lately. Bills like S.B. 172, which aims to limit the control local cities have on mining operations in their vicinity and increase mining production capacity, and H.B. 502, which would similarly limit local control on mining operations, have recently caught the attention of Utah’s environmentally conscious. What’s most alarming is that these pieces of legislation and their sponsors do not appear to represent the desires of local constituents. S.B. 172 was heard despite extensive formal and public opposition. These proposals come soon after another bill that would help Utah push back against federal environmental laws like the EPA’s “good neighbor rule,” a lawsuit filed by Utah conservation groups for the state’s failure to protect the Great Salt Lake, and ever-growing contention around the actions of the Utah Inland Port Authority.

While the potential economic benefit lawmakers use to justify such legislation may exist, the ecological devastation (and public health hazards like mine dust) that result arguably outweigh it. Furthermore, however, our leadership’s attitude of environmental disregard is actually un-Utahn.

If there’s one thing everyone from our state can agree on, it is the importance that nature, outdoor recreation and our beautiful surroundings have to each of us. With multiple national parks, world-class ski resorts, and countless geological features and discoveries that neighboring towns consider their “best kept secret” spread throughout the state, our love for what’s outside shapes how we present ourselves to the rest of the world. One need only review Utah’s official tourism website to notice how dominant the themes of outdoor recreation are in Visit Utah messaging, in contrast to comparable pages from states such as California or Pennsylvania, which feature outdoor recreation in a much smaller proportion alongside themes of food, theater or arts. That’s not to say Utah lacks in offerings in any of these categories, but with 16 of the 24 suggested activities having an outdoors theme on the website, it is clear what Utahns prioritize.

Beyond its symbolic value, Utah’s natural beauty significantly advances the state, its people and its culture. Outdoor recreation accounted for 3.2% of Utah’s gross domestic product, totaling $8.1 billion in economic output. Utah’s track record with sustainability following the 2002 Winter Olympics Games and the “Greatest Snow on Earth” helped Salt Lake City all but secure the opportunity to host the 2034 Games. The University of Utah was named the top public college in the West, while Intermountain Medical Center was chosen as one of the country’s top heart hospitals; the allure of Utah’s outdoor environment plays a large part in these institutions’ ability to recruit the best faculty or health care professionals, as seen by job descriptions from both organizations featuring lines such as “five national parks and several monuments, recreation areas, and National forests provide outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities.” And, as a smaller sports market struggling to compete with Los Angeles or New York for the best players, our outdoor gifts set us apart and help us retain talent. In a recent Instagram interview, former Jazzman Carlos Boozer says about Utah, “the mountains and the snow and the nature and just the whole atmosphere of being able to breathe in clean air. You know, you don’t get that everywhere.”

In a recent poll, almost 9 in 10 Utahns said that environmental issues played a role in their voting choices, more than in any neighboring state. Our environment and outdoors unite us, for there is no other place Utahns of all backgrounds, political beliefs, religions or cultures come together as regularly as on a trail or the shores of a reservoir. Nothing is more Utahn than hiking Angel’s Landing before learning cursive or skipping school to ski with family. Our leadership must remember what makes us unique, and all Utahns should use our votes and voices to elect lawmakers who reflect our love for the great outdoors with their actions and legislation.

Krishnam Goel is a junior at West High School and hopes to go to college to study environmental and public health policy and journalism. He currently participates in research on toxic algal blooms at the University of Utah and has helped raise public awareness of the Great Salt Lake through his school’s HOSA Club.

Divyam Goel graduated from the University of Utah in 2022 with a degree in philosophy of science and is starting medical school this fall. As a student fellow at the Sorenson Impact Center in college, he authored a Forbes article on the relationships between climate change and health care.

Newsletter