Category: Liveable cities
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Data Centres, AI, Urban Heat, and Community Action comes together in Western Sydney
We are witnessing a data centre boom all across the globe and increasingly in Australia. Driven by growing demand for AI and digital services, data centres rely on heavy infrastructure and energy-intensive cooling systems. They attract billion-dollar global investment and in NSW, are being moved quickly through planning pipelines. This process has left limited clarity…
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Cool Walks Toolkit: Released Today
Turning local knowledge into cooler, fairer streets As Australian summers become longer and more intense, the way our neighbourhoods are designed is increasingly shaping how safe and comfortable they are to live in. This week, Sweltering Cities is releasing a new resource to help communities take action: the Cool Walks Toolkit. Developed in collaboration with…
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Barbara, a Perth local, reflects on living and planning in the heat
As Perth braces for another long summer, many of us are already thinking about how to stay cool. At Sweltering Cities, we’re hearing from people across WA who are noticing how much harder it’s getting to escape the heat. For Barbara Pedersen, a retired environmental planner living in inner-city Perth, the summer heat is…
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Parramatta community Cool Walk: Witnessing the Urban Heat Island Effect
As part of Climate Action Week, Sweltering Cities ran our first community Cool Walk in Sydney. Our Cool Walk took place in Parramatta. We walked through, answered questions, and did some temperature monitoring around local hot spots that exacerbate the heat, as well as cool spots that provide us with much-needed relief on hot days. …
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Keeping Our Pets Safe in Heat
Humans aren’t the only ones impacted by rising temperatures brought about by climate change. Wild animals and pets both feel the heat. As cherished members of our family it is important to know the how to protect them in heatwaves. Many pet owners shared their concerns about rising heat in this year’s Summer Survey. To…
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Making climate action “as easy and accessible as possible”: Interview with Marlene Baquiran, co-founder of Climate Writers
Sweltering Cities spoke to Marlene Baquiran to discuss heat in Western Sydney, grassroots activism, and inclusive environmental advocacy. Marlene grew up in Western Sydney and is the co-founder of Climate Writers– a monthly gathering where climate advocates can write to their elected representatives and learn about climate solutions in an accessible manner. Formed in 2022,…
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“I’m worried about isolation”: Sue’s story of living in one of Australia’s hottest suburbs
Sue lives in Penrith, one of the hottest suburbs in Australia. As someone who enjoys outdoor hobbies and requires plenty of exercise to manage her chronic illness, Sue worries about the health and wellbeing implications of extreme heat Sue spoke to Sweltering Cities a week following a major heat wave that hit NSW in early…
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Recap: Brisbane – A Heat Safe City?
Sweltering Cities was so excited to host our very first Queensland event – ‘Brisbane, A Heat Safe City?’ at Griffith University on Monday the 12th of February. In the face of multiple natural disasters across the state over the summer, including a recent heatwave in Brisbane, the time is now to start the conversation around…
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“It’s really frustrating”: Anjana shares her experience of teaching during heatwaves
Sweltering Cities spoke with Anjana, a teacher at an intensive English centre in western Sydney. Anjana primarily teaches students refugee and migrant backgrounds. In her own words, she describes the importance of communicating heat health information to students who have newly arrived to Australia: Teaching is really frustrating when there’s a heatwave. The students do…
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Sign up to be a hot roof case study!
This summer we’re working with residents across Western Sydney to set up thermometers in their homes to measure the impact of roof colour. Join us in our collective effort to advocate for cooler suburbs and safer homes in Western Sydney through this citizen science project! Sweltering Cities has teamed up with built environment and health…
