On February 18, 2021 I was invited to attend a meeting of the American Conservation Coalition, (ACC), a conservative limited-government and free markets 501 non-profit environmental advocacy organization, at the SOMI Vietnamese Bistro in Salt Lake City, Utah. Several prominent individuals including three out of four members of the United States Congress from the State of Utah (Reps. John Curtis, Burgess Owens, and Blake Moore) were in attendance.

American Conservation Coalition Board Member Sarah Hunt

Each of the congressmen addressed the attendees in turn and spoke regarding the importance and value of environmental issues in Utah and nationally. Congressman John Curtis, who became a devout environmentalism advocate, or ‘climate conservative,’ through his experiences as a young scout, spoke of the value of clean air and water to Utahns at this event as he has on numerous occasions such as his comparative analysis on U.S. and Chinese carbon reduction efforts. Congressman Curtis has also recently introduced several proposed common sense bills touching on clean energy and other initiatives, in accordance with his passions and views. The Beehive State remains one of the best examples of Sustainable Mountain Development worldwide. However, Utah ranks #2 in the nation for the amount of land that is under federal control. Congressman Blake Moore of Utah’s First Congressional District was appointed to the House Committee on Natural Resources on January 25, 2021. Representative Burgess Owens stressed the necessity for youth to be involved in dialogue and advocacy, not so much as activists, but as real professionals; this is exactly the goal of the student-engaged learning (SEL) model practiced at Utah Valley University, (UVU).

Congressman Curtis Speaks At The Event

Concerns exist among three of them that the Biden Administration will reverse the order signed by President Trump at the Utah Capitol on December 4th, 2017 that would limit Utah national monuments such as ‘Bears Ears’ and the ‘Grand-Staircase Escalante.’ They believe that the U.S. Congress needs to draft bipartisan legislation to accomplish this rather than achieve this goal through executive orders as it belongs within the State powers under the 10th amendment of the U.S. Constitution, not to the federal government. This is essential to the democratic political processes and structural ‘separation of powers’ upon which the nation is founded. The ACC has also called for ‘rapid bipartisan policy on climate change.’ It is important for environmental issues to be focused on the local and regional levels rather than national, allowing for the needed individualized approach to take place.

          

Congressman Owens Speaks At The Event;              Congressman Burgess Owens R-(UT) and I

I was glad to represent at the event a growing grassroots movement, which is making the climate movement stronger than ever. Together, we can make a difference. Members of the Utah International Mountain Forum, (UIMF), can participate by becoming part of the solution. Personal adherence and promotion of the UIMF mission for  “the sustainability of the world’s mountain environments and livelihoods by implementing [the UN’s] three mountain targets [6.6, 15.1, and 15.4] as student engaged learning through advocacy, networking, knowledge sharing, and exchanges of best practices both locally and globally.” We stand to do this by 1) raising awareness of mountain sustainability topics, including in the State of Utah; 2) bringing the public into contact with international guests and foreign dignitaries; 3) bringing communities together to recognize their shared mountainous heritage.

                Congressman Moore Speaks At The Event;                    

During the event, I was able to represent the UIMF and share our agenda and mission and network with establishing several key contacts for successful inter-alliance collaboration in our Sustainable Development campaign. My wife and I shared a table alone with Congressman Burgess Owens, and I was able to know him better during the evening and exchanged business cards. I was also able to discuss the UIMF activities to advocate for SMD and conservation of the environment in the States of Utah with him and he accepted my invitation to speak at a future UIMF event; as well as Sarah Hunt, Board Member of ACC. 

I am thankful to the UIMF and the student-engaged learning (SEL) model in place at UVU that has enabled me to gain professional skills that I utilized to make professional connections and involvements in the real world.

                 Dallas Karren, Vice President of UIMF