Opportunities for health are influenced by where people live, work, learn, worship, and play. Climate and the environment can impact the health of people, including: 

• The air they breathe
• The water they drink or play in
• Severe weather and natural disasters

Climate hazards like heat, smoke and bad air quality, threats to water quality, and severe weather can impact health and well-being in Clark County. 

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Climate change is a health equity issue

While climate change impacts everyone, some communities are more impacted. Some communities may be more exposed, more sensitive to climate hazards, or have less resources or experience more barriers to respond or cope with climate hazards. 

Communities and populations most impacted include:

• Older adults
• Infants and children
• Pregnant people
• People with disabilities
• People with existing health conditions or who take certain medications
• Communities of color
• Tribal and Indigenous communities
• Refugees and recent immigrants
• People living unsheltered or unhoused
• People with low income
• People living in urban heat areas (areas in cities that are hotter than areas outside cities)
• People without access to air conditioning
• Outdoor workers
• People who exercise outdoors

Climate Action program

Clark County Public Health’s Climate Action program works to prioritize actions that address the impacts of climate stressors, reduce climate-related health inequities, and support community resilience in Clark County. We do this through: 

• Partnership and coordination
• Preparing for climate hazards
• Public health data analysis and monitoring
• Capacity building and education

For more information, contact the Climate Action program.

Additional resources