Legislative Action on Extreme Heat and the Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

A legislative proposal, the Extreme Heat Emergency Act, has been introduced in the U.S. Senate to address the escalating crisis of extreme heat. The act seeks to amend the Stafford Act of 1998, enabling the classification of extreme heat events as “major disasters.” This policy shift is critical for unlocking federal resources and aligns directly with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning health, sustainable communities, and climate action.

Advancing Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3)

The Public Health Emergency of Extreme Heat

Extreme heat poses a significant and growing threat to public health, a core concern of SDG 3. The impacts are particularly severe in states like Nevada.

• In a single recent year, Clark County, Nevada, recorded 526 heat-related fatalities, marking a 78% increase from the previous year.
• U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen highlighted that over 500 individuals died from heat-related illnesses in one Nevada county in a single year.
• As of the reporting date, Clark County has confirmed 29 heat-related deaths for the current year, with further cases under investigation.

Policy Response for Health Resilience

The proposed legislation aims to mitigate these health risks by formalizing a federal response mechanism. By classifying extreme heat as a major disaster, the act would:

1. Authorize presidential disaster declarations for extreme heat events.
2. Unlock federal emergency aid and resources for affected communities.
3. Support the establishment and operation of critical health infrastructure, such as public cooling stations and water access points, to prevent heat-related illness and death.

Building Sustainable Cities and Climate Resilience (SDG 11 & SDG 13)

Confronting Climate Change Impacts

The rising frequency and intensity of heatwaves are direct consequences of climate change, making climate action (SDG 13) an urgent priority. Cities in the American Southwest are on the front lines of this crisis.

• Las Vegas and Reno are identified as two of the fastest-warming cities in the United States.
• Recent summer temperatures in Las Vegas have been recorded at 6 to 10 degrees above normal, with highs reaching 112 degrees.
• The previous year, average daily temperatures in July were 6.7 degrees hotter than the historical norm.

Fostering Resilient Urban Infrastructure

In alignment with SDG 11, which calls for making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, both federal and state-level initiatives are being advanced. Nevada’s Assembly Bill 96, effective July 1, 2026, mandates that Clark and Washoe counties develop comprehensive heat mitigation plans. These plans are required to include strategies such as:

• Establishing public cooling spaces.
• Providing public access to drinking water.
• Increasing shade over paved surfaces to reduce the urban heat island effect.
• Implementing “cool building practices” to lower indoor temperatures and protect residents.

The federal Extreme Heat Emergency Act would provide the necessary funding to support and expand these local resilience efforts on a national scale.

Economic Stability and Institutional Strengthening (SDG 8 & SDG 16)

The Economic Toll of Extreme Heat

The economic repercussions of extreme heat events undermine sustainable economic growth (SDG 8). The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) reports that these events overwhelm the capacity of local governments and inflict substantial financial damage.

• The estimated economic cost of extreme heat to the U.S. in 2024 is $162 billion, equivalent to nearly 1% of the nation’s GDP.
• Costs are incurred through damages to critical infrastructure and significant losses in economic productivity.

Modernizing Governance for a Changing Climate

The proposal to amend the Stafford Act represents a critical update to the nation’s disaster response framework, reflecting the principles of effective and accountable institutions (SDG 16). The FAS, in its 2025 Heat Policy Agenda, explicitly recommended this change.

Key Recommendations from the Federation of American Scientists:

1. Formally amend the Stafford Act to define “extreme heat” as a major disaster.
2. Expand the definition of disaster-related “damages” to include non-infrastructure impacts, such as public health crises and lost productivity.

By adopting these measures, the federal government can create a more robust and proactive framework to manage climate-related disasters, safeguarding both lives and economic stability for a sustainable future.

Identified Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Based on the article’s focus on extreme heat, its impact on human health, communities, and the economy, and the proposed policy responses, the following SDGs are addressed:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article extensively discusses the deadly health impacts of extreme heat, citing specific mortality figures and the need for federal resources to mitigate these health risks.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article highlights the vulnerability of cities like Las Vegas and Reno to extreme heat and discusses measures to make communities more resilient, such as cooling stations, public water access, and new building practices.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The core issue of “extreme heat” is a direct consequence of climate change. The article discusses policy actions at both federal and state levels aimed at adapting to and strengthening resilience against this climate-related hazard.

Specific SDG Targets

The article’s content points to several specific targets within the identified SDGs:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  • Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.
    
    Explanation: The proposed “Extreme Heat Emergency Act” is a direct attempt to strengthen the federal government’s capacity to manage a national health risk. The article states the goal is to unlock “federal emergency resources and aid for affected communities” and enable a response “before, during, and after the disaster.”

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  • Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.
    
    Explanation: The article’s central argument is to classify extreme heat as a “major disaster.” It quantifies the impact by citing “more than 500 people died” and economic losses of “$162 billion in 2024,” directly aligning with the goal of reducing deaths and economic losses from disasters.
  • Target 11.b: By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and implement, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, holistic disaster risk management at all levels.
    
    Explanation: The article mentions “Assembly Bill 96,” which requires Clark and Washoe counties to “adopt heat mitigation plans as part of their master plans.” This is a clear example of local governments adopting and implementing plans for climate change adaptation and disaster resilience.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
    
    Explanation: The entire article focuses on building resilience to a climate-related hazard (extreme heat). The proposed federal act and the state-mandated “heat mitigation plans” are policies designed to enhance the adaptive capacity of communities and governments to cope with scorching temperatures.

Implied or Mentioned Indicators

The article provides specific data and policy examples that can serve as indicators to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• For Target 11.5 & 3.d:

  • Indicator: Number of deaths attributed to disasters.
    
    From the article: The text explicitly provides mortality data, such as “Clark County recording at least 526 heat-related deaths” in the previous year and “29 heat-related deaths reported in Clark County this year.” These figures are direct measures of the disaster’s human cost.
  • Indicator: Direct economic loss attributed to disasters.
    
    From the article: The article states, “The impacts of extreme heat cost the U.S. an estimated $162 billion in 2024—equivalent to nearly 1% of the nation’s GDP.” This quantifies the economic loss.

• For Target 11.b & 13.1:

  • Indicator: Number of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies.
    
    From the article: The article points to a specific policy, “Assembly Bill 96,” which mandates Nevada’s two largest counties to “adopt heat mitigation plans.” This serves as a direct indicator of local governments implementing disaster risk reduction strategies.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: lasvegassun.com