Clark County Joins The County Climate Coalition
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Nevada’s largest county affirms commitment to Paris Climate Agreement, environmental sustainability, and combating the climate crisis.
Las Vegas, Nev. – On October 15, 2019, the Clark County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution to join the County Climate Coalition, an initiative of The Climate Reality Project. The resolution commits Clark County—under the direction of the County’s Office of Sustainability—to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet the goals of the United Nations’ Paris Climate Agreement. Clark County, home to 2.2 million residents, is the first county in Nevada to join the County Climate Coalition.
The move fulfills the first of several sustainability goals introduced by Climate Reality Leader and Commissioner Justin Jones in a presentation at the county’s September 17 board meeting. “While climate change is a global threat, the responsibility for addressing climate change and making a meaningful impact to reduce greenhouse gas emissions must occur at the local level,” said Jones. “With that in mind, joining the County Climate Coalition is an important step in continuing our efforts to tackle sustainability issues in Clark County.”
In August 2019, Jones attended The Climate Reality Project’s Climate Reality Leadership Corps training in Minneapolis. Upon returning from the training and building on what he learned, Jones set out an ambitious agenda to commit Clark County to taking meaningful action on climate change. With the support of his colleagues on the County Commission, Clark County also committed to immediately hiring a full-time sustainability manager, completing a countywide audit of sustainability efforts and greenhouse gas emissions, and within the next year, adopting a sustainability and climate action plan.
By combating the climate crisis through renewable solar energy development, alternative community energy providers, enhanced waste diversion, environmentally friendly vehicles, reduction of water usage, and other local solutions, Clark County will continue its efforts to slow the pace of global warming while advancing environmental sustainability, protecting public health, and leading innovation.
“In the absence of leadership from the federal government, regional and local action on climate will be critical to meeting the promises the US made under the Paris Agreement,” said Ken Berlin, president and CEO of The Climate Reality Project. “Counties have an opportunity to make significant emissions reductions and be an important part of solving the climate crisis. We’re thrilled to see Clark County join this incredible movement.”
Santa Clara Supervisor Dave Cortese, originating partner of the County Climate Coalition, says, “We ask other counties—large and small—to join us in the County Climate Coalition and use our collective impact to create better, safer, and healthier environments for our communities and our neighbors around the world.”
Clark County becomes the 26th county to join the County Climate Coalition and commits to continuing to combat the climate crisis.
Any county within the United States is welcome to join The Climate Reality Project County Climate Coalition. To learn more, go to:
https://www.climaterealityproject.org/climatecoalition
Media Contacts:
Kevin McDonald
Clark County, Public Information Officer
(702) 455-6131
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ABOUT THE CLIMATE REALITY PROJECT
Founded by Nobel Laureate and former US Vice President Al Gore, The Climate Reality Project is working to catalyze a global solution to the climate crisis by making urgent action a necessity across every level of society. With a global movement more than 5 million strong and a grassroots network of trained Climate Reality Leader activists, The Climate Reality Project is spreading the truth about the climate crisis and building popular support for clean energy solutions. For more information, visit www.climaterealityproject.org or follow us on Twitter at @ClimateReality.
ABOUT COUNTY CLIMATE COALITION
The County Climate Coalition is a project and partnership spearheaded by Vice President Al Gore through his Climate Reality Project along with Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese. Counties that join the Coalition agree to meet the United States commitment under the UN Paris Climate Accord through results-oriented strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.