Governments must establish comprehensive heatwave plans well before extreme heat events strike, rather than scrambling to put measures in place during the crisis, according to a new report from the Australian Climate and Health Alliance.
Report Highlights Urgent Need for Pre-Planning
The report, released on Thursday, warns that Australia's current approach to heatwaves is dangerously reactive. It notes that many local councils and state governments only activate cooling centers and public health warnings after a heatwave has already begun, leading to preventable illnesses and deaths.
“We need to have plans in place before the heat arrives, not cobbled together during the event,” said Dr. Kate Charlesworth, a public health physician and co-author of the report. “Every day of delay in preparing for extreme heat puts lives at risk.”
The report found that over the past 20 years, heatwaves have caused more deaths in Australia than all other natural disasters combined. In the 2024-25 summer alone, an estimated 350 excess deaths were linked to extreme heat, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Key Recommendations for Heatwave Preparedness
The report calls for a national heatwave strategy that includes mandatory standards for housing, urban planning, and workplace safety. It recommends that all new homes be built with passive cooling features, such as insulation, shading, and reflective roofing, and that existing homes receive retrofitting subsidies.
It also urges governments to map heat-vulnerable populations—such as the elderly, people with chronic conditions, and low-income households—and to ensure they have access to cool spaces and information during heat events.
“We cannot keep treating heatwaves as an unexpected emergency,” said Dr. Charlesworth. “With climate change, extreme heat is becoming more frequent and severe. We need to embed heat resilience into our everyday systems.”
Economic and Health Impacts of Inaction
The report estimates that failing to prepare for heatwaves costs the Australian economy at least $1.2 billion annually in lost productivity, healthcare costs, and infrastructure damage. It cites a study from the University of Melbourne that found heat-related hospital admissions rise by 10% on days when temperatures exceed 40 degrees Celsius.
“The economic case for pre-planning is overwhelming,” said co-author Professor Mark Howden, director of the Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions at the Australian National University. “Every dollar spent on adaptation saves multiple dollars in emergency response and recovery.”
The report also highlights the disproportionate impact on rural and remote communities, where access to air conditioning and health services is limited. It recommends that the federal government establish a dedicated heatwave fund to support these regions.
Political Response and Next Steps
The federal Minister for Emergency Management, Jenny McAllister, said the government would consider the report’s recommendations. “We recognize that heatwaves are a growing threat, and we are committed to working with states and territories to improve our preparedness,” she said in a statement.
However, the report’s authors argue that progress has been too slow. They point out that only three states—Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia—have dedicated heatwave plans, and that these plans vary widely in scope and enforcement.
“We need a nationally consistent approach,” said Dr. Charlesworth. “Heat doesn't stop at state borders, and neither should our planning.”
