Communities across Australia endured dangerous heat records in January, prompting fresh calls for stronger national policies to respond to escalating extreme heat. Advocacy group Sweltering Cities says recent heatwaves have highlighted major gaps in support, with personal resilience no longer enough to keep people safe.
The organisation has marked February 4’s Extreme Heat Awareness Day with a coordinated national push involving the Australian Red Cross, the ACTU, the AMA and local government groups. Leaders are meeting with federal parliamentarians to advocate for a proactive approach to managing extreme heat as events take place from Cairns to Hobart.
According to Sweltering Cities, extreme heat causes more deaths in Australia than bushfires, cyclones and floods combined. The group says the impacts are being seen everywhere from families sleeping in cars to find relief, to children unable to concentrate in overheated classrooms, and households struggling to afford cooling.
Sweltering Cities executive director Emma Bacon said the nation is experiencing a public health emergency driven by longer and more intense heatwaves.
“Our cities are sweltering,” she said.
“The urban heat island effect is making our suburbs unsafe, trapping heat in our streets and homes long after the sun goes down.
“This isn’t just another hot summer; it’s a public health emergency that disproportionately affects those in hot homes, insecure workers, and our most vulnerable neighbours.”
Ms Bacon said reducing pollution from coal and gas was essential to limiting worsening heatwaves.
“We need leadership that moves beyond emergency response to proactive solutions that cool our communities,” she said.
“Safe homes, cool suburbs, support for the people most at risk and a commitment to preventing future warming will save thousands of lives in the decades to come.”
