Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020 | 2 a.m.
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According to a study done by Climate Central, Las Vegas, is the fastest-warming city in the United States, with a temperature increase of 5.76 degrees Fahrenheit since 1970.
Policymakers and the people of Southern Nevada can take steps, though, to combat the urban heat island effect their city faces. Sustainability is now at the forefront of policymaking discussions in Las Vegas, or at least it should be.
Fighting the urban heat island effect takes analyzing and acknowledging multiple causal issues, such as carbon dioxide emissions, and coming up with short-term and long-term solutions. Adding more native trees and vegetation/green space within the city is a short-term solution to not only lower both surface and air temperatures, but also provide natural shade coverage for residents and tourists.
Enacting green infrastructure policies is a great way for a city to become more sustainable. This would mean updating older buildings to be more energy efficient (including casinos), adding solar panels and green roofs or cool roofs, and ensuring that all future infrastructure and buildings have similar requirements.
