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‘Trib Talk’: Utah will study climate change, while a carbon tax initiative prepares to collect signatures

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Antelope Island and the Oquirrh Mountains beyond poke up beyond the deteriorating air quality under inversion conditions on Monday, Jan. 14, 2019, obscuring the ground below as pilot Jeff Greenland takes every opportunity to fly above the poor conditions. Over the radio with Salt Lake Approach before landing he can be heard saying "thanks for keeping us all safe during the shutdown," as the longest government shutdown in U.S. history drags on.

  | June 19, 2019, 1:23 p.m.
| Updated: 3:50 p.m.

Included in this year’s state budget is $200,000 for a study on how climate change impacts Utah.

Lawmakers say the research is needed to understand and better respond to issues like air quality and pollution. But the Utah Legislature has also shown reluctance to acknowledge climate change, and a campaign to enact a carbon tax is preparing to gather signatures, which could leapfrog lawmakers and put the issue directly before voters.

On this week’s episode of “Trib Talk,” Tribune reporter Bethany Rodgers, Bountiful Republican Rep. Ray Ward, and Clean the Darn Air co-founder Yoram Bauman join reporter Benjamin Wood to discuss different strategies in the state for addressing air quality and carbon emissions.

Click here to listen now. Listeners can also subscribe to “Trib Talk” on SoundCloud, iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify and other major podcast platforms.

“Trib Talk” is produced by Sara Weber with additional editing by Dan Harrie. Comments and feedback can be sent to tribtalk@sltrib.com, or to @bjaminwood or @tribtalk on Twitter.