Level 2: Module 2
What Is "Climate Vulnerability"?
Climate vulnerability is how easily a place or group of people can be harmed by extreme weather events, like wildfire or drought, and how hard it is for them to recover or stay safe during those events.
Climate change doesn't affect everyone equally: existing health conditions, socioeconomic disparities, geographic location, and systemic inequities all play a role in community members’ ability to cope with, adapt to, and recover from impacts.
For example, low-income populations often can’t afford to pay for safe housing, insurance, or other resources needed to recover from climate impacts. Individuals with pre-existing medical conditions could be put at greater risk when faced with climate health impacts such as heat-related illness or respiratory problems. Community members in different regions could be more vulnerable to flooding or extreme heat depending on their geographic location.
Extreme Heat in Clark County
Extreme heat days, or days with temperatures exceeding 106 degrees F, are projected to increase in Clark County. Currently, we experience about four extreme heat days per year. By 2064, the number could increase to up to 30 extreme heat days.
Staying cool in Clark County can be challenging for all of us, especially because not everyone experiences heat the same way. Low-income people, people with pre-existing health conditions, senior and youth, and people living in hotter parts of the Country due to the Urban Heat Island Effect are especially vulnerable when it gets hot. The map below shows the areas in our community that are most vulnerable to extreme heat.
The Urban Heat Island Effect
By 2064, the number could increase to up to 30 extreme heat days You'll notice the map above is speckled with orange/red hotspots. These hotter areas are mostly a result of the Urban Heat Island Effect. The Urban Heat Island Effect is when cities experience higher air temperatures than the surrounding areas due to absorption and retention of heat by buildings, roads, and other infrastructure. Watch the video below to find out more: