B. Commission Chair Alexis Hill Introduction
Dear Washoe County Neighbors, 
Major changes in Washoe County’s climate require a responsible and rapid response. Our region is particularly vulnerable to a changing climate. The Reno area is the fastest-warming metro in the country, with direct impacts to public health and the environment. We all experience this in our everyday lives when we cannot work or play outside on certain high-temperature or smoke days, when insurance is hard to obtain or extremely expensive due to fire or flood risk, when our electric and food bills increase. We can all do something to fight climate change on a local level and I am so proud that Washoe County is responding to this critical risk with the County’s Climate Action Plan for both County Operations and Community-Wide.
Washoe County is committed to addressing inequalities in climate change impacts, particularly among Low Income and Disadvantaged Communities (LIDACs), ensuring that greenhouse gas emission-reduction solutions prioritize equity and racial justice. These temperature changes and related weather events like wildfire, flooding, and drought will have a significant impact on our residents, visitors, infrastructure, and economy. This Plan is the continuation of our commitment to reduce our region’s contribution to climate change (i.e., greenhouse gas emissions, or GHGs) and prepare for its impacts. Evaluating County operations was a necessary first step for the County to lead in sustainability, resilience, and climate action.
Community members contributed hundreds of survey responses and provided input at dozens of events across the county and online. Many shared their stories, their concerns, their questions, and their expectations with us as we developed the Plan, input that will guide implementation.
Washoe County, the Board of Commissioners, and our strategic partners are committed to executing this plan quickly and equitably. With our shared future in mind, we hope each of you will join us in supporting the Plan and by taking action for a better planet in your own lives. I am so excited to implement this plan for a better more resilient future for my daughter and all the children in our community.
Sincerely,
Alexis Hill
Chair, of the Washoe Board of County Commissioners