Resiliency is a key concept in terms of sustainability and urban design. Characteristics of resilient cities include adaptability, natural capital, social capital, diversity, and innovation. “In order to increase their adaptability and resilience, urban communities should begin implementing planning strategies that will enable them to respond to crises more effectively and adapt to the economic, social, and physical stresses that will ultimately be brought about by climate change and other stressors” (Pijawka & Gromulat, 13). Currently, Rochester, Minnesota is ranked as one the most resilient cities in the United States due to its design/infrastructure and ability to adapt to change from natural disasters. In addition, Rochester has a very low poverty rate, and high percentage of citizens have health insurance. In contrast to this extremely resilient city, Las Vegas, Nevada is considered one of the least resilient cities with a very low resilience capacity. Las Vegas is a city located in the middle of the Mojave Desert with very limited resources. Although Las Vegas has very limited resources, the city still manages to thrive and consume an abundant amount of resources. Through research, I will be examining why Las Vegas has such a low resilience capacity and what can be done to improve its’ resiliency.
I chose the city of Las Vegas, Nevada to further explore due to the fact that I believe a lot can be done to improve the city in terms of sustainability and resiliency. In order to make Las Vegas more sustainable and resilient, solar energy should be the primary source of energy and other renewable energy sources such as wind and geothermal should also be implemented. An improved mass transportation system that travels from the suburbs to the city as well as to surrounding states would greatly benefit this area. The main concern of Las Vegas, Nevada is the lack of a steady water supply. Las Vegas relies heavily on the Colorado River for water, which may not always be available. This is by far the biggest issue/threat that Las Vegas faces due to the importance of water for survival.
“A Colorado River reservoir at Lake Mead is the source of 90 percent of the valley's water supply. Water levels there have fallen steadily for nearly a decade. Now Southern Nevada water managers say they can no longer rely on the river so heavily, and must construct a massive pipeline to draw water stored underground for centuries in rural Nevada to Las Vegas. They say no amount of conservation can replace the need for this backup source of drinking water. Opponents say the effects of the pumping would be devastating and that the plan would sacrifice a rural, ranching way of life in Eastern Nevada for casinos and tract home in the south” (Wise, 3).
If Las Vegas doesn’t find a solution to this dilemma, then the consequences could be devastating for not only Las Vegas but also for majority of the West. Also, due to scarce rainfall, poor quality of soil and extreme heat, growing crops and farming prove to be extremely difficult in these conditions.
Despite being located in the middle of the desert, Las Vegas is surprisingly resilient when it comes to natural disasters primarily because of its location and climate. Las Vegas is unsusceptible to volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, hurricanes, and tornadoes but is subject to earthquakes and drought. If business continues as usual at this rate and nothing is done to improve its’ resiliency, then Las Vegas could encounter extinction and may end up a ghost town as civilizations with a limited water supply have experienced in the past. To increase the resiliency of the city’s built environment, sustainable materials should be utilized when constructing new buildings and architecture. Incentives for recycling should be given as well as for conserving water. Desert landscapes should be the primary types of yards seen on any given day to preserve the finite water supply and the state/stakeholders should begin planning on where the next reservoir of water will come from.
Many scientists, stakeholders, and historians suggest that in order to make Las Vegas more sustainable and resilient, the practice of water harvesting should be utilized. As previously mentioned, an updated mass transportation system should also be developed in order to minimize emissions and clear the streets of traffic. Locals shouldn’t have to drive to the strip every weekend or every day for work, there should be a train or tram that takes passengers to and from the strip in a clean and timely manner. A high speed train could also be designed to take passengers to Los Angeles, California and another that would take passengers to Phoenix, Arizona to make logistics and travel as simple/safe and efficient as possible. There are multiple mortalities that occur on Highway 93 due to a 2 lane highway for large stretches of miles between Phoenix and Las Vegas. These train systems would also create employment and lower CO2 emissions. Although the Mojave Desert is home to Ivanpah, the world’s largest solar energy plants, it is not the most efficient solar energy plant by any means. The plant currently uses thermal solar energy techniques opposed to a much more efficient photovoltaic system. Even though all types of solar energy are beneficial, I would suggest that Nevada consider opening another solar energy plant that utilizes the photovoltaic method.
Lastly, I would recommend a phased in carbon tax of $20-$25 a ton which could raise $1 trillion over 10 years nation-wide. We could use 25 percent of the revenue to reduce individual and corporate income taxes, 25 percent for new investments in infrastructure projects such as the high speed trains mentioned above, 25 percent for research development and education with funding going to renewable energy sources which would create jobs now and in the future and 25 percent towards deficit reduction.
The Las Vegas Strip.
Works Cited
Gromulat, Martin, and David Pijawka. Understanding sustainable cities: concepts, cases, and solutions. Dubuque: Kendall Hunt, 2012. Print.
Roben, Zachary. (2014). Resilient Cities. Unpublished manuscript, Arizona State University.
Wise, Zach. "For Want of Water - Topics - Las Vegas Sun News." For Want of Water - Topics - Las Vegas Sun News. Las Vegas Sun, 15 June 2008. Web. 18 Mar. 2014. <http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/topics/
