PARK CITY — Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert challenged the reality of climate change during a Western Governors' Association panel discussion Monday on combatting 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."

His comments drew a smattering of applause from the audience at the association's three-day meeting, which ends today. The governors, who have backed a resolution urging regional and national efforts to deal with global climate change, did not join in.

Herbert is not yet a member of the association, but he will be after Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. is confirmed by the U.S. Senate as President Barack Obama's ambassador to China and resigns as governor. Huntsman is a strong supporter of addressing climate change and has been criticized for that by some of his fellow Republicans in Utah.

Herbert acknowledged he's new to the association's discussions and said he didn't want to be contrary. But he said polls have shown the public is divided on the issue.

"What are we doing to bring people together?" Herbert asked. "Is there a hidden agenda out there? Help me understand the science."

He had stepped out of the discussion during a presentation by U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu on the latest research. "The indications are not only that the climate is changing but is changing more than what were thought to be doom and gloom predictions," Chu said, warning the future could be bleak.

Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, who is taking over chairmanship of the association from Huntsman, said many Westerners do think climate change is "a bunch of hooey."

Schweitzer said that a statement made during the discussion by Nick Bridge, British counselor for global issues —? that the debate was settled — might be true in Europe but not in the United States.

Bridge responded to Herbert that while it's "not surprising the public is still working through" the issue, many eminent scientists "almost unequivocally agree" on the threat. He suggested Herbert see dealing with climate change as taking a risk management approach.

Think of it, Bridge said, like being warned you're "driving towards a cliff at high speed and have a 30 percent chance of brake failure. Would you get in the car? Nobody would get in the car."