Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman has been a leader in the push for state-level action in response to climate change. As a Republican in a generally conservative state, his roll has been an important one, pushing the issue beyond the usual left-right divide that defines the politics surrounding the issue.

But he's on his way to China as the Obama administration's new ambassador, and comments yesterday by his successor suggests a shift in Utah's approach:

Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert challenged the reality of climate change during a Western Governors' Association panel discussion Monday on combating global warming.

Herbert, who sat quietly through most of the discussions during the past two days, spoke up after presentations that included the statement that the debate on climate change was over.

"I've heard people argue on both sides of the issue, people I have a high regard for," Herbert said. "People say man's impact is minimal, if at all, so it appears to me the science is not necessarily conclusive."