With Las Vegas being one of the hottest cities in the country, experiencing serious heat is nothing new to Southern Nevadans during the summer months. But in recent years, extreme heat has become an increasingly prevalent concern. In just July of this year, Clark County experienced 15 days over 110°F — far exceeding our yearly average of 4 extreme heat days. Extreme heat – the most deadly of all extreme weather events in the country – is a central focus of the All-In Clark, our plan for a sustainable future in Southern Nevada.
Experiencing the impacts of climate change
Climate change is a driving factor in the rise of extreme heat in our region. When fossil fuels like coal, natural gas, and gasoline are burned to power homes, businesses, and vehicles — and when waste is buried in landfills — greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are released into the air. These emissions can trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to higher temperatures, more unpredictable storms, and other climate impacts. We see this effect on a daily basis in our community: five of the past six years have been the hottest on record in Clark County.
As climate change continues to impact our community, residents face increased risk of extreme heat, drought, wildfire, and flooding. As climate hazards increase in both frequency and intensity, communities may have less time to recover between them. It is also likely that multiple hazards will impact communities at once (e.g. a wildfire occurring during a drought), which can result in compounding risks to health and safety.
How Clark County is addressing climate impacts
In order to prioritize the health, safety, and economic wellbeing of our community, Clark County is working to enhance our overall sustainability efforts. In April of this year, the Clark County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the All-In Clark County Community Sustainability and Climate Action Plan, which focuses on both adapting to climate impacts and mitigating our County’s contributions to climate change through emissions reductions.
All-In Clark County includes much more than just clean air and water. It also includes affordable housing and clean energy, diverse and sustainable jobs, and a livable climate for the well-being and prosperity of our community and future generations. The plan focuses on six key focus areas, each representing an important aspect needing to be addressed to reach the County’s sustainability and resilience goals.
The recently-passed community plan builds off of years of planning and analysis in Clark County, including a county-wide GHG inventory and a regional Climate Vulnerability Assessment. These resources were used as a foundation to develop the strategies and actions to address climate change throughout Southern Nevada.
The All-In Plan aims to reduce our carbon emissions by 32% by 2030, driving our community towards a 72% reduction goal by 2050. It prioritizes high-impact strategies that will drive down emissions, delivering efficient and large-scale emissions reductions for our region. Over time, the All-In plan will not only reduce emissions that feed into extreme heat in our community, but to also address the impacts our community is already experiencing and ensure that Clark County is readily adapting to already existing climate impacts.
Call-to-Action: Navigating extreme heat in Clark County
Staying cool in Clark County can be challenging, and not all neighborhoods and communities experience heat in the same way. Learning how to navigate extreme heat is important to protect your health and safety – especially during hotter summer months. Learning more about heat in our community can help prepare residents to manage heat and other climate impacts in Southern Nevada:
- Register here for this All-In Clark County virtual presentation that aims to provide valuable insights and practical knowledge about managing heat risks on Thursday, August 17 from 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM.
- Visit Stay Cool Clark County to find heat resources like splash pads and cooling centers and to learn about best ways to weatherize your home (You can find more weatherization resources through the Nevada Housing Division’s Weatherization Assistance Program)
- Follow Hot Weather Tips from the CDC to manage health impacts during a heatwave
- Check out Clark County Energy Assistance Programs to save money and keep your home cool in warmer months
Learn more about the All-In Plans to see how we are staying on track to achieve our 2050.