Last week, Salt Lake Community College's Tanner Forum on Social Ethics welcomed distinguished speaker Dr. Robert Glennon, a leading authority on water policy. Dr. Glennon is the author of two books, including the New York Times bestseller, Unquenchable. He was a professor of law and public policy at the University of Arizona and much of his work has shaped the policy debate around the water crisis in the United States.
Dr. Glennon’s presentation offered an exploration of the challenges faced by the region as well as the ethical considerations that come into play when addressing these issues. In his address, Dr. Glennon emphasized the urgent need to reevaluate our approach to water management, as the West grapples with recurring droughts, groundwater depletion and a growing demand for this finite resource.
“We're entering the era of reallocation where we have this giant milkshake glass, and everyone has a straw in it. And we absolutely have to say no more straws. It is the tragedy of the commons. No more straws. If you're going to put in a straw then you're going to have to persuade someone else to take his or her straw out,” said Dr. Glennon in his speech.
Dr. Glennon touched upon the interconnected challenges faced by various stakeholders including farmers, urban areas, indigenous communities and the environment. He underscored the importance of making ethical choices in water allocation to ensure that no group or ecosystem is unjustly burdened.
One of the central themes of Dr. Glennon’s presentation was how climate change impacts the water shortages. He said that experts warn that the Great Salt Lake could dry up in 5-10 years due to climate change and population growth. Robert shared the challenges to an aging US water infrastructure system and how updating it could provide potential solutions. He also highlighted the inherent conflict between urban and agricultural water needs and the ethical considerations of prioritizing protection for certain areas over others, but that conservation is still the best solution.
“Conservation, reuse, desalination, price signals, reallocation, that's all with us. And those are powerful tools, powerful tools. And what we need now is to focus on those tools and to take all of our energy and show that we have the moral courage and the political will to act,” Dr. Glennon concluded.
A question and answer session was held after Dr. Glennon’s speech, where Maura Hahnenberer, Ph.D., associate professor of Geosciences at SLCC, led the discussion. She asked him the audience's questions such as his thoughts on types of policies or public support for increased population growth in Utah with low water, how Indigenous tribes have been involved in some of these water policy discussions, and how water creates conflict not only in the US, but worldwide and how society can work collaboratively on these issues rather than contentiously.
Dr Glennon’s visit served as a timely reminder of the ethical questions raised by droughts in the western region and the importance of addressing these challenges with a sense of responsibility and justice. Following the event, Heather May, project manager of the Great Salt Lake Collaboration [GSLC] commented, “It is the issue of our time in the West, and very specifically in Utah. I think it gave a great overview of the issues that the West is facing, dealing with water. [The GSLC] obviously zooms in on the lake but he broadened the scope.”
The Tanner Forum on Social Ethics brings nationally and internationally recognized speakers in the area of social ethics to Salt Lake Community College annually. The Tanner Forum enhances the College’s mission as a community-based learning institution by providing opportunities for the students, faculty, staff and wider community to come together for the thoughtful examination of critical issues in contemporary social ethics. The Tanner Forum on Social Ethics is made possible in part by the Tanner Charitable Trust.
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