Wednesday 4 February is Extreme Heat Awareness Day. Heatwaves are Australia's deadliest weather events. Already in 2026, most Australians have sweltered through 1-2 heatwaves and 50+ heat records have been broken.

In 2023, the National Health & Climate Strategy committed to a National Heat-Health Action Plan. The Climate and Health Alliance is calling on Minister Butler to expedite the release of the National Heat-Health Action Plan to save lives.

Quote attributable Dr Catherine Pendrey, GP and President of the Climate and Health Alliance

"Extreme heat is a silent killer. Heat kills more people in Australia than all other extreme weather events combined.

"On very hot days, our bodies are under pressure, and so is our health system. Our GPs, ambulances and emergency departments are under the pump trying to treat every who has heat exhaustion, heat stroke, a heart attack or stroke. 

"As a GP, I see the effects of extreme heat in my patients. There are limits to what the human body can endure — even in young healthy adults.

"We are seeing are seeing heat records being smashed, year after year, because of climate change. We urgently need to phase out fossil fuels and switch to clean energy, to stop adding fuel to the fire."