Ocean temperatures have shattered records. El Niño has struck and Las Vegas has faced a hurricane threat. Though diverting westward, the heavy rainfall still triggered flash floods, collapsed roads and caused a loss of access to parts of Mount Charleston.

Could major swings from a cool first half of the year to the hottest July on record be from the relentless rise of warming surface temperatures? It’s hard to say. But weather professionals are expecting more frequent and fierce storms in the years to come.

However, this is not a call to despair; it's a call to action.

Having seen the effects of hurricane weather while in the U.S. Coast Guard, it's inspiring to witness individuals, businesses and organizations within our community taking steps to take on climate change with a bottom-up approach. 

From embracing renewable energy in our public lands to protecting parks in our communities, to advocating for policy changes that prioritize electrification and sustainability, there are many examples of our collective commitment to safeguarding our environment for generations to come.

In Las Vegas, many people recognize the importance of striking a balance between our community’s economic development and environmental needs. Heavy bureaucratic hurdles can keep developers from the funding they need within project time constraints. Issues such as air quality will continue to affect neighborhoods across the valley and from where most residents cannot afford to move for more breathable, enjoyable air. 

Students of free markets will understand that innovative incentives, and not the heavy hand of government, makes for some of the best policies. 

Bipartisan policies such as clean energy permitting reform would bring more green energy into Southern Nevada. These reforms cut bureaucratic red tape from the “alphabet soup” of the federal government’s approval process for clean energy projects when we need it the most. They accomplish things such as assigning a lead agency, establishing deadlines and modernizing the National Environmental Protection Act without compromising on the community's chance for input or environmental needs.

As a nation, we will be placing one of the highest environmental standards in the world on workers and producers in the hope of cleaner emissions in our industries. It is a matter of fairness that we take these standards into account when we work on solutions — including producing more data so we can to measure the benefits of these high standards and help demonstrate that the United States' investments in cleaner, more efficient manufacturing practices are making an impact.

As the 2024 presidential election cycle ramps up, members of Congress will start heading back to the Hill and their ideological base camps. As the last days of hot weather play out, anyone can see that time is fast running out for bipartisan work.  

Shaq Cruz is a software engineer and climate advocate with Citizens Climate Lobby. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard during Hurricane Maria and is from Las Vegas.