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Utah Climate Action Network Launches

Community leaders announced a new coalition Wednesday to deal with climate change. The Utah Climate Action Network is focused on mainstreaming the reality of climate change, avoiding the risks it poses and sharing practical solutions to its impacts.

Susan Soleil, leader of the advocacy group, Utah Interfaith Power and Light, says faiths around the world are embracing the need for action.

“It is a social and moral issue that is tied to all of Creation,” she said, “and people of faith get that.”

The network includes 20 organizations in local government, higher education, advocacy groups, ski areas and federal agencies. But founding network members want the discussion to expand. Onno Wieringa is general manager of the Alta Ski Area.

“We want to be part of this group as one more source of sharing best practices, learning and being part of efforts that maybe make a little bigger change,” he said.

The network made its public debut a two-day conference on how the changing climate can be expected to affect health.  

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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