The world is heating up, and it's not just a matter of rising temperatures; it's a matter of life and death. As the CEO of the Climate Council and a mother of two, I'm concerned about the impact of extreme heat on our children and our future. The data is clear: it's getting hotter, and fossil fuels are the primary culprit. Between 2001 and 2018, nearly 500 heat-related deaths were reported in Australia, and a recent study estimates that 1009 Australians died due to heatwaves between 2016 and 2019. The current heatwave has pushed daytime temperatures into the mid to high 40s, with overnight minimums in the mid-20s, offering little relief. This extreme heat is not just uncomfortable; it's dangerous and unfair. It disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, including babies and young children, older Australians, outdoor workers, people with disabilities, and those without access to cool, safe housing. It can also put healthy people at risk, particularly those working or exercising outdoors. The consequences of this heat are far-reaching, impacting health, childhood, and the economy. Families are paying through higher power bills and rising insurance premiums. It's time to take action. We need to accelerate the transition to clean energy, electrification, and efficiency. We must stop expanding fossil fuels and rapidly cut climate pollution. We need to make our communities safer by improving heat planning, designing cooler homes, creating shaded streets, building resilient schools, providing accessible public cooling spaces, and strengthening emergency preparedness. This requires practical, achievable changes, such as better building standards, minimum energy performance standards for renters, strong workplace protections when heat becomes dangerous, and an energy system powered by renewables and storage, not old coal. We must also be honest about the costs. It's not fair that families are carrying the burden while fossil fuel companies continue to push for more coal and gas. We know how to cut climate pollution and keep the lights on; we just need to move faster. As a mother, I want my children to grow up in an Australia where summer still means fun, not fear. But we won't get there by treating this as 'just another heatwave.' This is climate change, and it's happening now. Extreme heat is already deadly, and fossil fuels are making it worse. We can change course, but we must act now.
