Climate Change: Perspectives from Nevada

In 2020, more than 1,500 Nevadans commented on climate change and the environment in a statewide survey. We've captured their stories here.

Survey conducted by the  Public Communication Initiative  within the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' Greenspun College of Urban Affairs

Nevada's Climate Concerns

From drought to extreme heat, Nevadans have unique climate concerns. We asked Nevadans to select topics that concern them, and then we asked them to rank the topics by most and least concerning.

As a life-long Nevadan I've personally seen the ecosystems change dramatically over the last 30 years. Lakes and reservoir levels fluctuate dramatically, devastating wildfires are becoming more common each summer allowing invasive species to destroy our natural ecosystem. Reno and Las Vegas are both among the fastest warming cities in the United States. (Washoe)

Concern by topic

The data to the right shows how many Nevadans expressed concern for each of the given climate change topics. They were unlimited in how many topics of concern they could choose.


More than half of Nevadans are concerned by environmental and human health impacts related to climate change.

Across the state, Nevadans are concerned by a number of issues related to climate change. As you can see in the diagram to the right, more than half of Nevadans are concerned about fundamental impacts to health and the environment, including:

Drought Wildfire Air Quality Extreme Heat Environmental Harm Pollution Water Quality Extreme Weather Food Security Public Health

Outdoor Recreation and the economy are of less concern.

Though a majority of Nevada's revenue comes from sales, gaming, tourism and entertainment taxes, economic recovery and tourism concerns less than half of Nevadans in the context of climate change.

Climate impacts on outdoor recreation also concern less than half of Nevadans who took the survey.

Some Nevadans are unconcerned by climate change impacts.

This opinion represents a significant portion of Nevadans in some rural counties, and a minority in urban counties.


Nevadans' Climate Concerns, Ranked

To gauge priorities, respondents were asked to rank their top three concerns out of the fourteen. The data to the right compares most pressing concerns for urban and rural parts of Nevada, and there is a lot of overlap in what they care most and least about.


Across the state, Nevadans are concerned most about:

Drought (42.7%) Wildfires (26.6%) Environment (26.3%) Air quality (24.5%) Extreme Heat (22.4%)


Urban and rural counties share in what they find most and least concerning

As you can see in the table to the right, urban and rural counties in Nevada share some common ground in their top concerns. Both rank drought as their top concern, and the majority of the top seven concerns are shared. Urban and rural counties also share outdoor recreation and tourism as their lowest ranked concerns.


Some differing viewpoints between urban and rural counties

There are also a few notable differences between urban and rural populations. For example, urban counties are more concerned by extreme heat, ranking it in their top five concerns while rural counties rank extreme heat tenth. Unique to rural counties is a quarter of rural respondents who are not concerned by climate impacts at all, while a slim number share this view in denser populated counties.


A majority of counties in Nevada are rural, while a few are urban

Nevada, like other states in the Western United States, is comprised of mostly federally owned land. Being the seventh largest state by land area, this means only two areas in the state are considered urban for the purpose of this study - the Reno and Carson City area in the north-western part of the state, and Las Vegas in the south. However, fourteen other counties are home to thousands of other Nevadans, as well as Indigenous peoples, who experience unique socio-ecological perspectives.


Urban Counties

This study considers three of the seventeen counties in Nevada as "urban" due to their denser  populations  (year 2020). Carson City county is paired with Washoe county as an urban area.

Clark (Las Vegas) (pop. 2,265,469) Washoe (Reno) (pop. 486,489) Carson City (pop. 58,644)

Rural Counties

The remaining fourteen counties in Nevada are considered "rural" due to their relatively lower population density.

Lyon (pop. 59,235) Elko (pop. 53,702) Nye (pop. 51,591) Douglas (pop. 49,488) Churchill (pop. 25,516) Humboldt (pop. 17,285) White Pine (pop. 9,080) Pershing (pop. 6,650) Lander (pop. 5,734) Mineral (pop. 4,554) Lincoln (pop. 4,499) Storey (pop. 4,104) Eureka (pop. 1,855) Esmeralda (pop. 729)



Explore Concerns by County

From South to North

Though Nevadans share common ground on important issues, not every region shares the same climate priorities. Nevada is the seventh largest U.S. state by land area. Much of the state is rural, including Lincoln and Churchill counties, while Clark and Washoe comprise Nevada's largest cities, Las Vegas and Reno. Ecologically, the state ranges from the snowy Sierra Nevada forests to the high and low deserts in much of the rest of the state.

We accounted for these differences and considered what Nevadans care about from each of its 17 counties.

Browse the map below to explore perspectives and priorities from your county.

Clark County (Las Vegas area)

Washoe County (Reno-Sparks area)

Carson City County

Lyon County (Yerington Area)

Nye County (Tonopah area)

Douglas County (Minden area)

Elko County

Churchill County (Fallon area)

Humboldt County (Winnemucca area)

White Pine County (Ely area)

Pershing County (Lovelock area)

Mineral County (Hawthorne area)

Lander County (Battle Mountain area)

Lincoln County (Pioche area)

Storey County (Virginia City area)

Eureka County

Esmeralda County (Goldfield area)

Clark County (Las Vegas area)

Priority concerns: Drought Air Quality Extreme Heat

Clark County residents mostly consider drought, air quality, and extreme heat to be the most concerning outcomes of climate change.

Clark County residents make up about 60 percent of the total survey respondents.

Washoe County (Reno-Sparks area)

Priority concerns: Wildfire Drought Air Quality

Washoe County residents are concerned most about wildfires, drought, and air quality changes that are all local results of climate change.

Carson City County

Priority concerns: Wildfire Drought Environment Extreme Weather Events

Carson City County residents are concerned most about wildfires, drought, impacts to natural environment, and extreme weather events that are all local impacts of climate change.

Lyon County (Yerington Area)

Priority concerns: Drought Air Quality Water Quality Environment

Lyon County residents are concerned most about drought, air quality, water quality, and impacts to natural environment as local climate-related issues.

Nye County (Tonopah area)

Priority concerns: Drought Extreme Heat Environment

Nye County residents are concerned most about drought, extreme heat, and impacts to natural environment as local climate-related issues.

Douglas County (Minden area)

Priority concerns: Wildfire Drought None

Douglas County residents are concerned most about wildfire and drought as local climate-related issues. Another top choice was no concern for any climate-related issues.

Elko County

Priority concerns: Wildfire Drought Water Quality

Elko County residents are concerned most about wildfire, drought, and air quality as local climate-related issues.

Churchill County (Fallon area)

Priority concerns: Extreme Weather Events Air Quality Wildfire Drought Economic Recovery None

Churchill County residents find that the most important climate-related issues are extreme weather and air quality, followed by wildfire, drought, and economic recovery. Another top choice was no concern for any climate-related issues.

Humboldt County (Winnemucca area)

Priority concerns: Environment Pollution Water Quality

Humboldt County residents find that the most important climate-related issues are the natural environment, pollution, and water quality.

White Pine County (Ely area)

Priority concerns: No rank data

Pershing County (Lovelock area)

Priority concerns: Wildfire Drought Extreme Heat

Pershing County residents find that the most important climate-related issues are wildfire, drought, and extreme heat.

Mineral County (Hawthorne area)

Priority concerns: Drought Food Security Extreme Heat

Mineral County residents find that the most important climate-related issues are drought, food security, and extreme heat.

Lander County (Battle Mountain area)

Priority concerns: Drought Wildfire Extreme Weather Events Water Quality

Lander County residents are concerned most about drought, wildfire, extreme weather events, and water quality as impacts related to climate change.

Lincoln County (Pioche area)

Priority concerns: None Air Quality Water Quality

Lincoln County residents are concerned most about air quality and water quality as impacts related to climate change. Another top choice in this county was no concern for any climate-related issues.

Storey County (Virginia City area)

Priority concerns: Drought Wildfire Extreme Heat

Storey County residents are concerned most about drought, wildfire, and extreme heat as impacts related to climate change.

Eureka County

Priority concerns: No rank data

Esmeralda County (Goldfield area)

Priority concerns: No rank data


What Now?

Nevadans agree that something needs to be done about climate change and localized environmental problems. When asked what that might be, and how the state of Nevada should be involved, urban and rural respondents overlapped quite a bit in their ideas. Keep scrolling for details.

Solution priorities across Nevada

Among all Nevada counties, ideas for what should be done about climate concerns are generally shared despite urban and rural geographical difference

Most commonly, Nevadans suggest solutions related to:

Technology (renewable energy, efficiency advancements) Pollution control (clean air, land, and water) Transportation (electric vehicles, improved public transportation) Urban development (city planning, efficient housing, equity)

Image shows the Crescent Dunes solar power plant near Tonopah, Nevada. Photo by Jamey Stillings and retrieved from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Library archives

Urban county solution priorities

Technology – 39.6% of responses Pollution – 26.6% of responses Transportation – tied at 19.7% of responses Urban Development tied at 19.7% of responses

Rural county solution priorities

Technology – 28.9% of responses Do nothing – 25.8% of responses Pollution – tied at 17.5% of responses Urban Development – tied at 17.5% of responses

Other climate solutions

Nevadans also suggested the following strategies for addressing climate change:

Taxes, fines, penalties Incentives and investments Protecting water resources Protecting environment and ecosystems Economic approaches Education and awareness

Pass regulations on polluters and greenhouse gas producers, incentivize non- fossil fuel energy production, re-establish limits on contaminants in our water supplies, and fund training for jobs in the clean energy sector. (Carson City)

I believe it’s not right to weigh the issue of climate change against economic health, because without a healthy planet, there is no economy. We need a new economic model that values sustainability over growth. (Washoe)


Responsibility for Action

A majority of Nevadans agree that the State of Nevada is responsible for providing and facilitating solutions to climate change concerns.

But for many, responsibility, both for the problems and solutions, falls not only on the State but on adjacent states, industry, federal government, and individuals in Nevada and globally.

The State should set the goals and leave the decision of how to implement the goals to the counties. (Carson City)

[We need] Alliance with Western states and aggressive legal action where necessary to prevent Federal government from destroying Nevada. (Carson City)

Those least responsible will suffer the most impact, because they won't have the resources to mitigate the effects of climate change. (Washoe)


Time and Action

Many Nevadans echo a sentiment that climate action is either too late, it needs to happen now, or that repercussions of inaction are coming soon.

These concerns for timely responses to climate change tend to show that some feel taking action will make a difference, while others experience fatalism, or a feeling of inevitability and that climate impacts will happen whether we take action or not.

I believe there is very little time, if any time at all, to slow down the heating of the planet. (Nye)

I understand that the State likely wants to make this transition at a reasonable pace for the economy, but our planet is in a very tedious tipping point, and we need to be making changes at a faster pace. (Clark)


Scope and Action

Climate change is a global issue with localized implications, and a local issue with global implications. The scale of climate and environmental problems, and the actions to solve them, are relevant to Nevadans.

Some suggest individualized actions while others emphasize the importance of inter-state and country collaboration.

Actually, I'm not as worried about local effects, I'm more concerned with the melting polar caps, the destruction of both land and sea habitats, and the bleaching coral reefs, which will all disappear if steps are not taken immediately. (Clark)


Emotion and Anxiety

The timeline, scale, and ability to act on climate change can cause a range of feelings.

Hope and Hopelessness Anxiety and Overwhelm Fear Anger Frustration

I want to take a huge breath of air outside and not feel anxious about it. I want to drive around the city and soak in the beauty, not the trash. I want to see my people taken care of. (Clark)

I feel very disturbed by the lack of concern and willingness to change, even from intelligent, educated humans. If something doesn't happen soon, and in a big way, I do believe my grandson and granddaughter will live in a world that is not fit for most people to live in. (Washoe)


Skepticism and Resistance to Action

Approximately 8% of survey respondents thought that Nevada should "do nothing" regarding climate change. Reasons varied from concerns about the accuracy and interpretation of climate science, the inability for action to make a reasonable dent, beliefs that other states (such as California) or the federal government should take the lead, or concerns that the environment was displacing other priorities like economics or education. Some feel its simply impossible that efforts will make a difference anyway, especially without global collaboration. These beliefs were not proportionate across the state; 6.2% of urban respondents but 25.7% of rural respondents selected "do nothing."

Climate change being a hoax or farce were present, albeit only a fraction of skeptic arguments compared with resistance for these other reasons.

I am skeptical about the positive impact a lot of these policy solutions will have on the lives of regular Nevadans who are concerned about they are going to support themselves and their families. (Elko)

Fix our economy first, fix DETR first, get kids quality IN PERSON education this year.   [No one should] put climate issues above these way more important matters. (Clark)

"They feel irreversible. They are also most likely out of our hands. Whatever the United States does, without cooperation from China, India, and Russia, all our efforts will be for naught." (Clark)

"There is nothing we can do about climate change." (Clark)


Getting Involved

Many who took the survey wanted to know more about what they can do to get involved in combatting climate change issues. They also care about educating the youth about realistic actions, and communicating about shared values across partisan political divides to solve shared problems.

More [public] awareness of what is needed by us, what is being done and show progress. Use tv, radio, mailers, websites, etc. to get data in front of everyone. (Washoe)

In addition to focusing on green energy and reducing carbon emissions, I think Nevada and all states would benefit from a robust PR campaign explaining the WHYS behind the need to address climate change. Unfortunately, like many things these days, climate has become a partisan issue. (Carson City)

I feel more should be done to educate youth of these issues. More of a voice at the high school and college university levels would be ideal. Ultimately it is our children that will be dealing with the consequences so they need to be part of the solution now. (Clark)

One hope we have for this survey, in light of climate concerns, emotion, and doubt, is the importance of understanding the issues as a step in taking action. Anxiety and fatalism that makes us believe there's nothing we can do, but a path forward involves good research and dialogue with communities.

Learn More

Drought, wildfires, environmental health, air quality, and extreme heat are most concerning to Nevadans overall.

Scroll through the slides below to learn about these concerns, popular solutions, and where to find some more information about them.

Drought (scroll right)

By far, Nevadans consider drought to be the most concerning climate-related issue. Almost half (42.7 percent) of respondents place drought in their top-3 climate-related concerns. Of these, most consider it to be their top concern.

The Colorado River, which runs through Southern Nevada, was declared its first federal water shortage. Nevada is in required negotiations with the seven states who share access to the overallocated river, in order to reduce consumption.

Other water concerns include reducing individual consumption, reducing

Especially in the Northern part of the state, wildfires are amplified by drought conditions.

We must evaluate our water resources and have multiple plans for conservation for our future. (Lyon)

Drought is a main contributor to dry environments which ultimately create wildfires. Drought also puts a strain on our food production causing reduced crop outputs, decreases food security and quality of life. (Washoe)

As the climate changes, we are going to face longer and longer droughts. The Colorado River is already under too much pressure between ranchers need for access to water, reduced snow fall in the Rocky Mountains, and the demand that reaches all the way to Mexico. (Clark)

Wildfires (scroll right)

Wildfires are the second-most concerning climate-related issue for Nevadans. Over a quarter (26.6 percent) consider wildfires to be a top-3 climate-related concern. Of these, about a third consider it their top climate concern.

Many connected the harms of wildfires to reduced air quality, reduced means of food production, and economic harm.

Currently, Nevada is seeing smoke from California's historic wildfires. I live on the edge of the desert, near the recent site of a very large wildfire. I find myself coughing constantly, with irritated eyes and throat. I'm a young, healthy individual. These continuing risks pose bigger dangers for the elderly and at risk. (Clark)

Environment (scroll right)

Over a quarter (26.3 percent) of Nevadans place the environment (natural spaces or plant and animal life) as one of their top-3 climate-related concerns. Of these, almost half place it as their top concern.

To Nevadans, the environment is both local ecosystem and global ecosystem care. Protecting local plants and animals from drought, wildfire, and human development is important, but many also point to global ecosystems affected by global climate change, such as rainforest destruction and global cycles that are melting ice at the poles.

The damage to the environment will totally upend the worlds ecosystem and affect the life of every living thing on the planet. (Churchill)

The environment is one of the top issues for me, and has been since I was a teenager in the 1960s. We need places for wildlife and natural environs to survive. Without diverse plants and animals, the world is a poorer place. (Douglas)

Air Quality (scroll right)

Almost a quarter (24.5%) of Nevadans who took the survey placed air quality in their top three concerns. Many cite wildfires as their primary air quality concern. Smog and pollution make up the remainder of air quality concerns, resulting in part from burning fossil fuels especially in cars.

One way Nevada is attempting to reduce air pollution is by requiring a shift to electric vehicle sales in the state. The Clean Cars Nevada program requires less tail pipe emissions in cars, and will require manufacturers to sell a certain number of electric vehicles starting in 2025, with a goal of zero emissions by 2050.

Members of my own family suffer from severe allergies, hay fever, asthma, epilepsy and kidney disease, all attributed to or worsened by the environment we live in. (Clark)

Extreme Heat (scroll right)

Over a fifth of Nevadans who took the survey (22.4%) ranked heat in their top three climate concerns. Reno and Las Vegas are the fastest warming cities in the nation. Urban heat island effects are making Nevada's cities, and specific neighborhoods within them, hotter every year.

Increasing heat also amplifies other conditions like drought across the state.

Extreme heat, especially when it is sustained, can tax the energy grid and lead to wildfires, drought, water quality and death. (Clark)

Renewable Energy (scroll right)

Renewable energies include sources like wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal.

Electric energy is any source of energy, including fossil fuels, that is stored using batteries.

As of 2021, around 70% of Nevada's electric energy still comes from natural gas and coal.

Many renewable sources are possible in Nevada, especially with our ample sunshine and wind. But the technologies needed require metals and other materials to build infrastructure and batteries used to store the energy.

We need cleaner energy and to protect the environment, so we should use more wind and solar power and do more to protect Nevada's plants and animals, like keeping wildlife areas from becoming test sites.  We could also have more open access to electric transportation.  Giving more incentives to people to get electric cars and to businesses to include charging stations might help as electric cars improve. (Douglas)

More renewable energy, transportation transformation through conversion of personal, commercial and other fleets to electric. (Clark)

Transportation and Electric Vehicles (scroll right)

When survey respondents suggested technology as a climate change solution, many were referring to both electrifying vehicles, and improving public transportation in Nevada to reduce dependence on cars.

Standards set by the State of Nevada will require reduced tailpipe emissions and a certain number of cars manufactured to be electric, with the hope of reducing emissions to zero by 2050.

Decarbonizing the grid and boosting electric vehicles (including mass transportation) are the key priorities. (Washoe)

More public transportation and cheaper housing options in the cities are necessary. Many people have to commute to Reno from Carson Valley cities. There isn't a single bus system that goes from Dayton or Minden to Carson, and Carson to Reno. This is unacceptable. I assume that this is also similar for Las Vegas. (Washoe)


About the Survey

This survey was collected in 2020, and the 1,560 survey responses include multiple choice and written responses.

In 2020, more than 1,500 Nevadans shared what they think about climate change through the first ever large-scale survey gathering opinions on climate change in the state, as part of the State of Nevada Climate Initiative.

The data captured here includes descriptive statistics and open-ended survey responses that, together, give researchers and policy-makers a chance to hear not only what Nevadan's care about, but why it matters to them and how it feels to grapple with climate change as an embedded part of contemporary life.

The survey was available to all Nevadans. We asked, for example, how concerned they are about climate change, what types of issues concern them most, and what Nevada should do to address them. Importantly, we asked why these issues matter to them.

We hope that this survey, along with other relevant research and initiatives in these topic areas, will help illuminate some of the unique perspectives of Nevadans within the global concern of anthropogenic climate change, incorporating the human experience into our scientific understandings.

Demographics

Scroll or read through the demographic data for more information about who took the survey.

Survey-takers were of diverse ages, with more women and white individuals. Liberal political affiliations outnumbered conservatives, however, a large number identified as moderate, independent, or preferred not to answer. About half have children and are married. A large majority are registered voters and have had some college education. Half of respondents don't identify with a religion, however, about one-fifth identify as Christians, followed by a small representation from other religious faiths. A large majority of respondents are from urban counties within the state, which is to be expected since more people live in those areas. The only counties not represented in the data are Eureka and Esmeralda, the two least-populated counties in the state with less than 2,000 residents combined.

Percentages represent valid percentages of total survey-takers.


My view is that we are all connected and have impacts. If we address the most fundamental of human needs, the economic benefits will naturally follow. People want to be where they thrive emotionally and physically. (Washoe)

More About the Researchers

The data for this survey was collected in 2020 by faculty and student contributors from UNLV's Public Communication Initiative housed in the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs, with financial support from Former Nevada Governor Sisolak's office as part of the State of Nevada Climate Initiative.

Principal Investigator

Emma Frances Bloomfield, Ph.D.

Student Researchers

Laekyn Kelley, David Almanza, Michael Carmona, Eddie Estrada, Hannah Patenaude

Visual Content

Public Communication Initiative, UNLV

Image shows the Crescent Dunes solar power plant near Tonopah, Nevada. Photo by Jamey Stillings and retrieved from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Library archives