Nevada
Global climate change poses risks to human health and to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Important economic resources such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and water resources also may be affected. Warmer temperatures, more severe droughts and floods, and sea level rise could have a wide range of impacts. All these stresses can add to existing stresses on resources caused by other influences such as population growth, land-use changes, and pollution.
Climate Change in Nevada
Below are some of the potential impacts:
- By 2100 temperatures in Nevada could increase by 3-4°F in spring and fall (with a range of 1-6°F), and by 5-6°F in winter and summer (with a range of 2-10°F).
- Higher temperatures and increased frequency of heat waves may increase the number of heat-related deaths and the incidence of heat-related illnesses. The elderly, particularly those living alone, are at greatest risk.
- The sustained streamflow in Nevada largely results from spring and summer snowmelt in the mountains. At lower altitudes, intense storms can contribute to streamflow, but because of high evaporation, most smaller streams run dry in the summer. A warmer climate could lead to more winter rainfall and an earlier, more rapid snowmelt. This could result in higher winter and spring flows, and the inability to store flood waters for use later in the summer. Additionally, without large increases in rainfall, higher temperatures and increased evaporation could lower lake levels and streamflows in the summer.
- In western Nevada, the Truckee and Carson rivers serve the rapidly growing population of the Reno-Sparks-Carson City area, as well as irrigated agriculture. Competition for water between agricultural, municipal, industrial, and instream uses could intensify. In north-central Nevada, competition for water is acute on the Humbolt River, and when snowpacks are meager, demand for irrigation greatly exceeds supply. The expanding metropolitan area of Las Vegas uses a large portion of Nevada’s allotment of the Colorado River. Under current conditions, without significant increases in either reuse of water or alternative supplies, future development could be limited by this allotment.
- In several areas of the state, particularly near large urban areas, groundwater has been withdrawn at rates that exceed natural replenishment, and groundwater levels have seriously declined. Less spring and summer recharge could exacerbate this situation.
- Lower streamflows and higher temperatures could also impair water quality by concentrating pollutant levels and reducing the assimilative capacity of streams. Sewage effluent and pollutants from agricultural and urban runoff are concerns in the Truckee and Carson rivers, Lake Tahoe, and Lake Mead.
- Nevada’s surface waters are fully appropriated. Changes in water availability would complicate the complex water-rights and interstate compacts that govern water allocation.
The above are based on from the Environmental Protection Agency's report on climate change, which uses data from the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2001).
For more info on climate change impacts on Nevada in areas such as water resources, agriculture, forests and ecosystems, you can download pdf of full EPA Report.
CO2: How Does Your State Rank?
Nevada is the highest emitter of C02 of all 50 states and the most populous.
Maps
See CO2 output by sector, coastal population maps, and maps of regional initiatives.
Regional Initiatives
In the absence of federal action, many U.S. states are banding together to explore and employ greenhouse gas-reducing policies.
Nevada participates in the following:
Western Governors' Association (WGA): Clean and Diversified Energy Initiative
Learn about climate initiatives in all U.S. states and regions
Your Impact
Estimate your CO2 footprint by using a carbon calculator such as the one on the Inconvenient Truth web site.
How green is your energy? The EPA has a power profiler that can tell you.
