This pilot study reviewed factors that combine to produce urban heating in Sydney’s rapidly developing urban fringe and key socio-environmental issues such as the health effects of periods of extreme heat and the loss of shading and cooling effects as the tree canopy is further degraded. The changing built environment is shaping new forms of...

The report was undertaken as part of a PhD research, funded by the CRC for Low Carbon Living Ltd. supported by the Cooperative Research Centres program, an Australian Government initiative and a research student scholarship granted from the Australian Building Codes Board.

This study assesses the daily excess morbidity, energy demand and consumption, and water supply in the Adelaide metropolitan region during heatwaves, between January 2008 and March 2014.

Although heatwave-related excess mortality and morbidity have been widely studied, results are not comparable spatially and often longitudinally because of different heatwave definitions applied. The excess heat factor (EHF) quantifies heatwave intensity relative to the local climate, enabling cross-regional comparisons. Previous studies have shown a strong relationship between EHFs and daily mortality during severe heatwaves.

In Australia heat waves claim more lives than any other natural hazard. To direct population adaptation strategies for a changing climate, it is necessary to be able to identify the location of groups within our population who are most vulnerable to adverse health outcomes associated with extremely hot weather, and to understand factors that influence...