Nevada residents press lawmakers to act on deadly heat and air quality risks

As Nevada faces record-breaking heat and worsening air quality, residents and advocates are urging lawmakers to pass environmental justice legislation aimed at protecting vulnerable communities from climate-related health threats.

Jeniffer Solis reports for the Nevada Current.

In short:

• Nevada recorded 526 heat-related deaths in 2024, up 78% from the previous year, as extreme heat persisted into October and triggered widespread health emergencies.
• Bills under consideration in the state legislature would address heat through urban planning mandates, worker protections during wildfire smoke events, and improved access to public transit and water infrastructure.
• Advocates from the Nevada Environmental Justice Coalition traveled hundreds of miles to Carson City to testify in support of the bills, but many measures have already been vetoed, amended, or stalled.

Key quote:

“There isn’t any shade, there aren’t any benches, there’s no trees. Imagine 110 degree weather, standing out there in scorching hot sun.”

— Yajaira Rimendes, environmental justice advocate and former nurse

Why this matters:

Nevada’s soaring temperatures are not just uncomfortable — they’re deadly. As the planet warms and urban areas like Las Vegas continue to expand, heat waves grow longer and more intense. The urban heat island effect, where buildings and pavement trap heat, makes cities several degrees hotter than surrounding rural areas, especially at night. These conditions are hardest on people with chronic illnesses, outdoor workers, the elderly, and low-income families — many of whom lack access to air conditioning, safe housing, or reliable public transit. At the same time, worsening wildfires in the West pump smoke into the air, exposing millions to fine particulates that damage lungs and exacerbate heart conditions. Despite clear data linking these threats to human health, regulations to mitigate their impact remain sparse in many states.

Related: A new era of growth in the dry West faces water woes