Doctors, workers, and frontline advocates detailed the human cost of extreme heat and called on Washington to defend clean energy investments and air quality protections
LAS VEGAS, NV — On the eve of National Heat Awareness Day, Congresswoman Dina Titus joined more than a dozen Southern Nevada clinicians, workers, state lawmakers, and community leaders for a roundtable on the region’s escalating extreme heat crisis, and the federal action needed to keep Nevadans safe as the Trump administration dismantles climate and clean air protections. A full list of spokespeople can be found below.
The roundtable, hosted by Nevada Conservation League, Climate Power, and Chispa Nevada, at Whitney Library — itself a designated cooling center in the Clark County network — came as Las Vegas continues to rank among the fastest-warming cities in the United States. The city has warmed roughly 6°F since 1970 and now faces about 15 additional days of extreme heat each year, according to Climate Central. In 2024, Clark County recorded 513 heat-associated deaths and 3,548 heat-related emergency department visits. This May, Las Vegas broke daily temperature records set as far back as 1960, reaching 104°F on May 11 — more than two weeks before the valley typically sees its first triple-digit day.
Participants drew a direct line between Washington’s retreat on climate policy and the danger facing Nevada families. The Trump administration has repealed clean air protections and rescinded funding meant to expand clean energy. Those investments help cut household energy bills, ease pressure on the grid during peak demand, and keep cooling centers running when the power goes out.
“Thank you to the Nevada Conservation League for inviting me to discuss ways we can better prepare for heat-related events and for their powerful advocacy on this issue. While steps have been taken in recent years to combat the rise of heat-related illnesses, more needs to be done to improve emergency responses to this deadly threat,” said Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01). “I am committed to seeing my Extreme Weather and Heat Response Modernization Act over the finish line. This legislation would allow FEMA to provide Southern Nevada the resources we need to mitigate extreme heat.”
“Nevadans cannot afford a federal government that walks away from the heat crisis,” said Angelyn Tabalba, Deputy Director of Nevada Conservation League. “Southern Nevada is already living the consequences in our emergency rooms, on our job sites, and in our utility bills. We brought these voices together today because the people closest to the pain are also closest to the solutions.”
“We are seeing a major strain on our electricity system at the individual and community level driven by extreme heat,” said Assemblymember Howard Watts III (District 15). “Energy bills are going up year after year. People are turning their thermostats up — or turning things off entirely — because they have to choose between cooling, food, and medication. That is not a safe choice. Lower-income households, especially those in older homes and mobile homes, face even higher bills because their infrastructure is less efficient. We have the tools to fix this. Nevada has abundant sunshine. We can harness solar and battery storage to keep community centers, churches, and cooling shelters running even during a grid outage. But we need continued federal investment in energy efficiency and utility bill assistance to make that real.”
“Cardiovascular illness and death is much higher with extreme heat,” said Dr. Joanne Leovy, family physician and founder of Nevada Clinicians for Climate Action. “A study published this week projects that heat-related cardiovascular illness will double by 2050 under current conditions — and that would likely overwhelm all the gains we’ve made in cardiovascular medicine. Heat is bad for lungs, bad for kidneys, bad for brain health, and bad for mental health. There is evidence it increases depression, anxiety, and even violent behavior. Patients with preexisting mental health conditions, particularly those on medications for psychotic disorders, are at far greater risk. People with schizophrenia die at three times the rate of the general population during extreme heat events.”
“This year’s State of the Air report shows Las Vegas experienced increased ozone and particle pollution — ranking it the 11th most ozone-polluted city in the nation,” said Melissa Ramos, Senior Manager of Advocacy, Clean Air of the American Lung Association. “Children are especially vulnerable because they spend more time outdoors, their lungs are still developing, and their immune systems are not yet fully equipped to handle these exposures. There are approximately 49,000 children in Nevada living with asthma. As extreme heat becomes more frequent, its compounding effect on air quality means those children are being hit twice.”
Participants pointed to concrete solutions already taking shape in Southern Nevada. The City of Las Vegas powers its municipal buildings, streetlights, and facilities with 100% renewable energy and has installed solar at 40 parks, community centers, and city facilities. City planning calls for solar-powered energy storage and microgrids at key facilities and fire stations, the kind of backup power that can keep cooling shelters operating during extreme heat events and grid outages.
Speakers urged Rep. Titus to carry one message back to Washington: the federal government must defend the clean energy investments, air quality protections, and worker safeguards that Nevadans depend on to survive a hotter future.
The conversation builds on a growing regional momentum: the Southern Nevada Extreme Heat Summit, convened by the Regional Transportation Commission on April 29, and the annual Climate Change Preparedness Conference, have both elevated the urgency of coordinated heat response across Southern Nevada.
Link to photos and b-roll here.
Roundtable attendees:
- Congresswoman Dina Titus
- Assemblyman Howard Watts III
- Assemblywoman Cinthia Moore
- Deb Reardon, Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
- Robert Burgy, Clark County Department of Environment and Sustainability
- Giselle Gomez, Clark County Social Services
- Dr. Joanne Leovy, Nevada Clinicians for Climate Action
- Angelyn Tabalba, Nevada Conservation League
- Audrey Peral, Chispa Nevada
- Julia Hubbard, Solar United Neighbors
- Sara Evans, SEIU Climate Justice Caucus
- Mary Wagner, Mom’s Clean Air Force
- Melissa Ramos, American Lung Association
- Lisa Hoyos, League of Conservation Voters
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About Nevada Conservation League
The Nevada Conservation League is the independent voice of Nevada’s conservation community. NCL works to maintain and enhance the natural character of Nevada and the quality of life for Nevadans through effective advocacy, the election of pro-conservation candidates, and building collaboration.
About Chispa Nevada
Chispa Nevada is a program of the League of Conservation Voters that builds the power of Latine communities to fight for climate justice and our democracy.
About Climate Power
Climate Power is an independent strategic communications and paid media operation focused on building the political will and public support for bold climate action. Climate Power integrates hard-hitting research, polling, state and national earned media, digital and paid media to influence the national conversation, embolden leaders to take immediate, bold climate action, and expose climate deniers and their oil and gas lobby allies.