Category: Take Action
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Interview with Barbara Schaffer, GANSW Principal Landscape Architect
To celebrate National Tree Day, Sweltering Cities spoke to Barbara Schaffer, Principal Landscape Architect for GANSW (The Government Architect NSW), about designing liveable cities that ensure the health and wellbeing of communities. Barbara’s role involves guiding policy and advocacy to enable landscape architects to positively contribute to healthy, resilient and sustainable places. As a landscape…
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VIDEO: Sweltering Cities speaks to author Jeff Goodell on his new book ‘Heat: life and death on a scorched planet’
On 18 July 2023 our Executive Director Emma Bacon spoke to American author Jeff Goodell about his new book ‘Heat: Life and death on a scorched planet’. Watch their conversation here and let us know what you think. Read more of Jeff’s Goodell’s work here. About the book: “Extreme heat is the most direct and…
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Sweltering Cities submission to the Victorian Government’s rental crisis inquiry
Over the last few weeks, we have been collecting stories from renters across Victoria about what it feels like to live in a hot home. We have compiled these stories into our submission to the Victorian Government’s inquiry into the rental and housing affordability crisis. These powerful stories paint a stark picture of the struggles…
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Building momentum: Third Heatwave Safe Rentals campaign meeting plans summer event
Last week, renters and supporters came together for the third Heatwave Safe Rentals campaign meeting, to plan an upcoming summer event and discuss how we can take advantage of the Victorian Government’s inquiry into the rental and housing crisis. The campaign gained momentum with the addition of new supporters joining the meeting, united by a…
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What does the Victorian Government need to know about being a renter during a heatwave?
Sweltering Cities is making a submission to the Victorian Government’s inquiry into the rental and housing affordability crisis. About the Inquiry: The inquiry aims to uncover the underlying causes of the rental and housing affordability crisis in Victoria. The Legislative Council’s Legal and Social Issues Committee is spearheading the inquiry, and will examine the regulations…
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“It’s getting harder and harder”: Rafael’s story
Raphael has lived in Erskine Park in Sydney’s Western Suburbs for 22 years. He was a chemist and is now retired. He spoke to Sweltering Cities’ Community Campaigner about his experiences in Western Sydney.
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Second renters meeting sets campaign priorities for heatwave safe homes
Last night, activists and supporters from across Victoria came together to decide on specific asks and tactics to win the Heatwave Safe Rentals campaign. Everyone who attended the meeting brought different perspectives to the table. One supporter stressed the urgency of minor rental fixes as a practical and immediate goal, while another supporter emphasised the…
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Why we love shade
Shade plays an important role in minimising the Urban Heat Island Effect and reducing heat related diseases. Higher tree cover means lower temperatures on the ground on hot days, as well as sun protection for people as we walk We believe that shade needs to be a much higher priority when planning our new developments…
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Living in a rental home without cooling: Madeline’s story
No-one should have to live in a dangerously hot home, but this is the reality for Madeline Cooper, a renter living in Melbourne’s inner city. She lives with long Covid, which is challenging enough, but for Madeline, the extreme summer heat makes her symptoms worse. Her rental home is not designed to cope with scorching…
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In the hottest suburbs in Sydney 70% of bus stops have no shelter or shade
Hundreds of people have submitted information about their local bus stops through our form or shared their bus stop with us via email or social media. Of the 596 bus stops in our first sample, we found that 70% of stops had no shade, no shelter and no seat!
