The Vulnerability to Extreme Heat report identifies locations across Australia which have a high likelihood of experiencing extreme heat and a high concentration of people who are vulnerable because of illness, age and/or income level.
It finds that wealthy, coastal areas of major cities are generally less vulnerable to extreme heat than inland suburbs, and that rural areas are generally more vulnerable than urban areas.
Extreme heat is the number one cause of weather-related illness and death in all parts of Australia, except Tasmania, and Australians on low incomes who are older and/or have a long-term health issue are more vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat.
Doctors for the Environment Australia say the research is a vital tool which will help governments to save lives.
Key findings:
- The top 10 locations most vulnerable to extreme heat are: Mt. Isa (QLD), Katherine (NT), Charters Towers (QLD), Broken Hill (NSW), Barcaldine - Blackall (QLD), Port Pirie (SA), Alligator (NT), Humpty Doo (NT), Mildura (North) (VIC), and Derby (WA). Half of these are in Queensland and the Northern Territory.
- The states and territories most vulnerable to extreme heat are the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia. In the Northern Territory, 78% of locations are highly vulnerable to extreme heat, as are 57% of locations in South Australia and 52% of locations in Western Australia.
- In all major cities, outer suburban locations are more vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat than inner-city and coastal locations.
- By 2025, the Northern Territory will experience an estimated 232 days of extreme heat (over 35°C) every year.
"Climate change is exacerbating existing inequalities and disproportionately impacting the most vulnerable Australians. We need policies - on climate and social services - that reduce this inequality," said Morgan Harrington, Research Manager at The Australia Institute.
"Immediate and targeted action on climate change, including phasing out the use of fossil fuels, will help slow the rate at which Australia warms. Reducing fossil fuel subsidies could free up resources to help fund initiatives to lessen inequality, including by providing support to vulnerable people during heatwaves."
"We still have choice. We can take climate action now to avoid the number of extreme heat days from increasing, or we can deal with the consequences later."
"Heat is a fast-emerging health crisis," said Dr Kate Wylie, Executive Director of Doctors for the Environment Australia and Adelaide-based GP.
"Dangerous heat places extra strain on our bodies and leads to increasing hospitalisations and deaths.
"Those who are hit the hardest are older people, babies, pregnant women, people with chronic medical conditions, such as heart, lung and kidney diseases, as well as those living in poorly insulated homes, in areas with little shade, people in cities and renters.
"This Australia Institute report is a needed resource for identifying areas where the most vulnerable Australians will be affected by extreme heat, and it will save lives.
"The report is also a potent reminder that the world is getting ever hotter and that we must reduce the temperature to protect our health. To do this we must phase out fossil fuels, which are the major drivers of worsening climate change and the hotter more chaotic weather we're seeing in Australia and around the world."
