The way we build homes now will decide how safe people are in the extreme heat of our future. We need to increase minimum standards so that safe, sustainable housing isn’t only a luxury. We signed on with 100 organisations to a statement from sustainability organisation Renew to support higher building standards in the NationalContinue reading “Sweltering Cities joins 100 organisations calling for 7 Star homes”
Author Archives: emma
Key things we learned about cities and heat from the State of the Environment report
The 2021 State of the Environment report (SOE) was released in July 2022. The SOE reports have been released every 5 years since 1995 and are an assessment of every aspect of Australia’s environment and heritage, including rivers, oceans, air, ice, land and urban areas. We’ve pulled out some key findings related to heatwaves, citiesContinue reading “Key things we learned about cities and heat from the State of the Environment report”
Sweltering Cities is expanding our Board of Directors
Sweltering Cities is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) to join our Board of Directors and to support and guide the work of Sweltering Cities.
Send us your #BustedBusStop photos!
We’re collecting photos of bus stops so that we can tell a powerful story about how the inadequate transport infrastructure impacts people. Can you send us photos of your local stops?
Cool Intentions: A trivia fundraiser to turn down the heat
Thanks to everyone who made it out to our first ever public fundraiser event. Over 70 people joined us at Young Henry’s to raise money for our next summer of campaigning.
Locals ask the hard questions of candidates in Lindsay
On Thursday 5 May residents from across Western Sydney gathered in Penrith to ask Lindsay’s federal candidates questions relating to extreme heat, planning, and the environment. Residents shared their concerns for the electorate, which is one of the most heat impacted regions in Sydney, and their ideas for a more sustainable, cooler future. The eventContinue reading “Locals ask the hard questions of candidates in Lindsay”
2022 Summer Survey Results Released
Read the results here. The Summer Survey from Sweltering Cities and Healthy Homes for Renters of over 2000 Australians has found that rising temperatures are having a significant toll on community wellbeing including both physical and mental health impacts. It is the largest ever survey on heat, health and homes in Australia. The report releasedContinue reading “2022 Summer Survey Results Released”
Turfing out fake grass: Resources on the impacts of synthetic turf on human health and the environment
Fake grass creates and exacerbates urban heat islands, causing detrimental effects on human health, and the natural environment. It can increase land surface temperatures by 40% or more, absorbing heat, warming air temperatures, hardening soil and thus increasing stormwater runoff. Microplastics are created both during its production and as it degrades. It kills nutrients inContinue reading “Turfing out fake grass: Resources on the impacts of synthetic turf on human health and the environment”
Public housing high-rise residents suffering in the heat with inadequate infrastructure
Sweltering Cities Melbourne Community Campaigner joined a weekly morning tea for residents from some of Melbourne’s over 55’s public housing towers. The purpose of the visit was to discuss their experiences of living in the towers during heatwaves, the effects that the heat has on their livelihoods, and what they would like to see changed.
February 2022 Melbourne Online Community Meeting
Sweltering Cities held our first 2022 Melbourne community meeting online with over 30 attendees. we heard from some powerful key speakers followed by a broad insightful discussion of extreme heat impacts across Melbourne.