SALT LAKE CITY — A high-profile group of Utah business and political leaders made a new commitment Wednesday to help the state address its air quality problems and do its part to combat climate change.
More than 100 signatories put their names to the Utah Climate and Clean Air Compact in a virtual event hosted by New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, author of the 2008 book “Hot, Flat, and Crowded.” Friedman noted the vice presidential debate occurring in the city Wednesday evening but said that, in his opinion, it was the “second-most important” event in Utah today after the compact ceremony.
In a presentation, Friedman encouraged Utah to lead out on market-oriented, green energy solutions for the air and climate.
The event was also hosted by compact leaders including Scott Anderson of Zions Bank, Kem and Christian Gardner of the Gardner Company, Pat Jones of the Women’s Leadership Institute, Greg Miller of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies, Tom Love of Love Communications, and Utah Clean Energy executive director Sarah Wright.