Nevada outlines a more aggressive plan to combat climate change

By John Sadler

Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020 | 2 a.m.

A climate strategy report released this week by the state provides the framework to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with targets established by the Nevada Legislature in 2019.

Nevada has to reduce carbon emissions by 28% by 2025, 45% by 2030, and reach a net-zero reduction by 2050.

The ideas evaluated under the plan were broken down by emission sectors — transportation, electricity, industry, residential and commercial, land use and land change.

Under transportation, policies including adopting lower emissions vehicle standards, closing emissions inspection loopholes for classic cars and adopting low-carbon fuel standards were discussed.

Other ideas evaluated include transitioning away from fossil fuel energy sources, transitioning away from commercial and residential use of gas, expanding urban forestry programs and adopting energy codes for buildings with net-zero energy consumption.

“The effects of climate change can be seen and felt in every corner of Nevada, impacting our collective public health; threatening our natural landscapes and limited water resources; and challenging the vibrancy of our communities and economy,” Gov. Steve Sisolak said in a statement. “For the first time in Nevada’s history, we are doubling down to address climate change head-on.”

Nevada has some work to do.

The state is not on track for those reductions, according to the 2019 state greenhouse gas emissions inventory, which says that without further action Nevada will be 4% short of the 2025 goal and 19% short of the 2030 goal. 

Failing to hit these targets could be costly, as the reduction targets would prevent up to $786 million in economic damages by 2030 and up to $4 billion by 2050, according to the report. Those costs could come from damages from extreme weather events such as hurricanes or wildfire, which are brought on by higher temperatures.

A study by the University of Maryland’s Center for Integrative Environmental Research indicates the impact of climate change in Nevada could hit the state’s water supply hard, potentially impacting the state’s lifeblood in the tourism industry.

“The effects of climate change can be seen and felt in every corner of Nevada, impacting our collective public health, threatening our natural landscapes and limited water resources and challenging the vibrancy of our communities and economy,” Sisolak said.

The strategy report is designed to establish the groundwork for the “bold actions necessary” to improve the state’s resilience to climate change and creating a Nevada-specific structure for continuing climate action, officials said.

A report by Natural Resources Defense Council and the Sierra Club argues that Nevada should move more quickly than the current legislative roadmap, which requires the state’s renewable portfolio standard sit at 50% by 2030.

The report argues the state must hit 80% renewable electricity by 2030, stop using coal by 2025 and reduce gas plant use, among other recommendations, to hit its stated goals.

Dylan Sullivan, a senior scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council based in Reno, said that tackling the problem of climate change must require prioritizing low-income communities and communities of color who “already bear disproportionate burdens” in the crisis. He also said that the state can take advantage of its solar energy potential to infuse the economy with green jobs.

“Whether it’s the upcoming 2021 legislative session or ongoing administrative rule-making processes, Nevada leaders will have many opportunities to act on climate in this legislative session and over the next few years,” Sullivan said in a statement.

The proposed move away from gas consumption in buildings is the strongest portion of the plan, said Patrick Donnelly, the Nevada state director for the Center for Biological Diversity.

“The only livable future is one that has no fossil fuels, and gas is the elephant in the room,” Donnelly said in a statement. “Gov. Sisolak has shown political courage by taking a stand on this issue.”

However, Donnelly said the plan has some flaws in that it doesn't democratize energy production or address environmental inequalities in cities. 

“Low-income communities of color bear the burden of the heat-island effect, and the state strategy does nothing about it except planting some trees,” Donnelly said in a statement. “Trees are great, but we need to address the systemic inequalities that directly and disproportionately affect urban centers.”