The facts are undeniable: the planet is heating up, and our reliance on fossil fuels is exacerbating this crisis.
- Environment (https://www.smh.com.au/environment)
- Climate change (https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change)
- Global warming (https://www.smh.com.au/topic/global-warming-5xu)
Opinion
By Amanda McKenzie
January 11, 2026 — 1:30 PM
As the CEO of the Climate Council and a mother of two young kids, I find myself grappling with a pressing concern each time temperatures are forecasted to reach the high 30s or even 40s: how can I ensure my children’s safety? It's not merely about keeping them comfortable; it's about keeping them safe.
Often overlooked in national discussions is the fact that extreme heat is already one of Australia’s most lethal environmental threats. Between 2001 and 2018, nearly 500 heat-related fatalities were recorded as reported to coroners (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420921006324) across Australia. More recently, research (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025004982) estimated that 1,009 Australians lost their lives due to heatwaves from 2016 to 2019, with Queensland and New South Wales suffering the highest casualties.
In the past few days, wildfires have ravaged parts of Victoria (https://www.smh.com.au/link/follow-20170101-p5nsz8), leading to significant destruction of homes. Concurrently, extensive areas of the country (https://www.smh.com.au/link/follow-20170101-p5nsbv) have endured severe to extreme heat, stretching from Western Australia through South Australia, New South Wales, and Tasmania. Daytime highs soared into the mid to upper 40s, while nighttime lows remained uncomfortably warm in the mid-20s, providing little respite. Certain communities reported temperatures soaring between 8°C to 16°C above the average. When nights remain oppressively hot, the human body struggles to recuperate, leading to serious health implications.
Extreme heat isn't just another hot day; it represents a growing and dangerous threat that has been intensified by our ongoing dependence on fossil fuels. Moreover, extreme heat places financial burdens on families, contributing to escalating power bills and rising insurance costs.
The silver lining is that Australia is already beginning to transform its energy sources. Renewable energy is on the rise, battery technology is advancing, and households are shifting towards electrification. However, we must accelerate these efforts and refrain from exacerbating the issue.
Heat may not always leave conspicuous marks on the landscape, nor does it consistently dominate news reports like cyclones or catastrophic bushfires. Yet, it is an unyielding force. It affects various demographics disproportionately, particularly infants and small children, the elderly, outdoor workers, individuals with disabilities, and those without access to cool and safe living spaces. Even healthy individuals can be at risk, especially those engaged in outdoor activities or labor.
Additionally, heat disproportionately impacts those based on their living conditions. If you reside in a well-insulated home with efficient cooling systems, you can shut out the worst effects. Conversely, those in poorly constructed rentals or homes that trap heat are left vulnerable.
Now, let’s confront a hard truth: heatwaves are becoming more frequent, intense, and prolonged. The burning of coal, oil, and natural gas is warming our planet, and we are facing the consequences of this reality. Anticipation surrounds next week’s Copernicus annual climate update, which is likely to affirm what the last decade has revealed: the world is warming rapidly, and every fraction of a degree makes extreme heat increasingly perilous.
When extreme heat strikes, its impact extends beyond health concerns; it disrupts childhood experiences. Schools become unsafe environments, outdoor play is rendered impossible, sleep is disturbed, and tensions rise. Learning takes a hit.
Parents for Climate (https://www.parentsforclimate.org/schoolclosures?utm) has documented a rising number of school closures attributed to extreme weather conditions, including multiple closures in northern Queensland due to excessive heat. They caution that official records only capture part of the story, as many schools are inadequately equipped. Whether a student can learn safely on a scorching day often hinges on the presence of air conditioning, shade, access to water, and backup power. In Australia 2026, this should not be a matter of chance.
While summers become increasingly severe, the pathways to solutions are clear and already in motion. We need to expedite these initiatives. Firstly, we must halt the expansion of fossil fuels and swiftly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by promoting clean energy, electrification, and efficiency. Secondly, we should enhance community safety through effective heat planning, improved building designs, shaded public areas, resilient educational institutions, accessible cooling centers, and robust emergency preparedness measures.
This calls for practical and achievable changes, such as enhancing building standards to ensure that homes can withstand a hotter climate, establishing minimum energy performance requirements to protect renters, enforcing stringent workplace safety measures during heat events, and creating a reliable energy system powered by renewables and storage instead of outdated coal.
It also necessitates an honest conversation regarding who bears the financial burden. It is unjust that families are shouldering these costs while fossil fuel companies continue to advocate for more coal and gas exploitation. We possess the knowledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining energy availability—we simply need to act more swiftly.
As a mother, I hope for my children to enjoy a future in Australia where summer signifies fun rather than fear.
However, we cannot achieve this by dismissing this issue as merely "another heatwave." This is climate change manifesting in our communities, schools, and homes. Extreme heat is already a killer, and fossil fuels exacerbate the situation. Yet, we have the power to alter our trajectory—if we choose to.
