On Sunday April 7th Sweltering Cities hosted our biggest ever Sydney Event! Over 60 attendees from Greater Sydney came together at the Arts and Cultural Exchange in Parramatta to exchange summer experiences, engage in activism, and participate in practical skills workshops. The day was brimming with enthusiasm, networking, and the lively exchange of ideas.
The day began with a Welcome to Country from Dharug elder Uncle Greg, who reminded us the importance of nature and animals in our lived environment. Echoed in the powerful Summer Survey Data presented by our Executive Director Emma Bacon.
Expert panel
The expert panel presented important information about their observations of rising heat in Western Sydney and the impact on our health, communities and climate. The panellists led a balanced discussion grounded in science and summer statistics, with the experiences and advocacy emerging in our diverse, and multicultural communities.
immersive performace – Bindi Bosses
Bindi Bosses captivated us with an unforgettable experience of heat, conveyed through music, dance, and lyrical storytelling. The Tamil fusion dance group brought ‘Rising Heat’ to life with a live performance, beautifully embodying Tamil culture and its deep connection to and reverence for the land. Immersing ourselves in the experience, we clapped and stomped our feet, working up a sweat, we could feel the heat rising within us.
Our Plan for a Heat Safe City
We worked together to determine ‘Our Plan for a Heat Safe City’. Through scenario mapping and collaborative discussions we targeted our ideas for better futures. Some key ideas that came through were:
- Reducing urban heat islands: more trees for better green cover, ban dark roofs
- More cooling infrastructure, cool community centres. e.g. Pondi Beach, making this accessible via public transport
- Increased education about heatwaves as a health issue
- Solar Power & Zero Emissions in Greater Sydney
Community ideas and input empower our campaigns. Get involved with Sweltering Cities campaigns here.
skills workshops
Our final session focused on practical skills workshops. It was an opportunity to get involved and take action within our community. The workshops included:
How to Speak to the Media featured techniques to prepare for an interview with a journalist. In this workshop we had the opportunity to practice in a mock interview and receive feedback.
How to Speak to an MP, in this workshop we discussed key concerns in our communities, pinpointed the relevant minister to speak to, and planned requests for action.
Citizen Science used temperature monitor guns to record surface temperatures, noting the heat difference between black surfaces, concrete, trees and cars. This workshop was inspired by the Sweltering Cities Hot Roofs project, testing temperature disparity between black roofs and lighter colours.
Storytelling workshopped our communication skills. We used the framework of “story of me, story of us, story of now”. Reflecting on our shared values, goals and vision for Greater Sydney.
Thanks to everyone who attended the event, your ideas, enthusiasm and experiences empower our campaigns. The panel and discussions throughout the day emphasised the need for greater awareness of heatwaves as a health issue, better planning in Western Sydney with care and regard for nature, and the underpinning goal of zero emissions. Thank you to our organisational partners and the expert panel.