Introduction: How policymakers are addressing Utahns’ environmental concerns

In the spring of 2023, an interdisciplinary group of USU faculty and graduate students started the Utah People and Environment Poll, or UPEP, to gather representative infomation on Utahns’ perceptions of environmental issues to help inform policy. 

Residents from across the state were randomly selected to participate in the survey, conducted by mail and online, with nearly 450 sharing their thoughts.

The survey asked respondents their thoughts on nine environmental issues in the state. More than half of the respondents are very concerned about drought/lack of water, poor air quality, and the drying of Great Salt Lake. About four in 10 are also very concerned about changing access to public lands, population growth, loss of open space, and climate change. Approximately three in 10 are very concerned about increased temperature/heat and wildfires. Only a small percentage said they are not concerned at all about these issues.

We also asked if respondents think politicians and policymakers in Utah are doing enough to address these issues—few did. The biggest gap between concern and policy is with drought/lack of water—55% are very concerned about this issue, yet only 15% think politicians are doing enough or too much. This data clearly indicates that many Utah residents would like to see their leaders enact additional policies to address environmental issues.