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Understanding Extreme Heat and Entry Points for Action

Extreme heat is Australia’s deadliest natural hazard — yet it often goes unseen. This report examines heat risk through the intersection of hazard, exposure, vulnerability and capacity, showing how impacts emerge across health, infrastructure, livelihoods and essential services. It clarifies key concepts — including extreme heat, heatwaves and urban heat islands — and explains Australia’s

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Illustration of a park scene with a red fountain, a tree, and landscaping.

Extreme Heat Risk in Australia: Insights from the PERC

Heat through a systems lens. Credit: Australian Red Cross. Extreme heat is Australia’s deadliest natural hazard — yet it remains largely invisible, normalised, and under-addressed. This Post-Event Review Capability (PERC) on extreme heat presents a comprehensive, systems-based analysis of how heat risk is shaped, experienced, and managed in Australia. Rather than treating extreme heat as

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Illustration showing extreme heat as a systems issue, depicting people, infrastructure, natural environments, and urban elements interconnected under a large sun, representing how heat affects multiple components of urban life

Beyond Individual Risk: Why Extreme Heat Demands a Systems Response

At a Glance Extreme heat becomes a disaster when it overwhelms the systems people rely on — housing, health, infrastructure, ecosystems, and social services. Heat impacts do not occur in isolation but often cascade across sectors. Disruptions in one system (especially energy and critical infrastructure) can quickly trigger failures in others, amplifying harm and disruption.

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Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance in the Philippines

As part of the Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance, the Philippine Red Cross, together with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and Plan International are working with communities across the Philippines to improve community resilience, increase investment, and improve policies for climate resilience at all governance levels in the Philippines. The Philippines is

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A Systematic Review of Heat Health Warning Systems: Enhancing the Framework Towards Effective Health Outcomes

Purpose of Review Heat Health Warning Systems (HHWS) reduce heat-related morbidity and mortality. We reviewed scientific studies on HHWS that use meteorological variables, local climate-epidemiological evidence, personalization, and built environment factors to determine heat stress thresholds. We identified key factors to enhance their precision and effectiveness. Recent Findings We categorized the findings into three groups.

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When Form Follows Nature: Presence, Climate, and the Ethics of Space

Form follows nature. Not as slogan. As method. In an age of climate emergency, urban intensification, and sensory saturation, this principle becomes resistance. It invites us to pause—not to impose geometry, but to observe ecology. To trace the shifting patterns of light, wind, and memory. To let trees instruct. To let people inhabit. This is

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Enhancing Community Resilience to Climate Risks in Madrid and Valencia

Since 2023, Spanish Red Cross has led the Urban Climate Resilience Program (UCRP) in Madrid and Valencia, working with communities most affected by extreme heat and floods. As extreme weather grows more frequent and severe, the program supports people and cities to prepare, adapt, and thrive. This infographic highlights key achievements to date, spanning both

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Strengthening Climate Resilience in Vulnerable Communities in Western Sydney

Since 2023, Australian Red Cross has led the Urban Climate Resilience Program (UCRP) in Western Sydney, working with communities most affected by extreme heat. As extreme weather grows more frequent and severe, the program supports people and cities to prepare, adapt, and thrive. This infographic highlights key achievements to date, spanning both local action and

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Heat Adaptive Architecture Design Competition

Who can participate in this competition? Any student at the time of the submission enrolled in an undergraduate (3rd year or higher) or graduate program (Master or PhD) in architecture or urban planning/design. Interdisciplinary teams (e.g. with engineering or environmental studies students) are welcome, but the team lead must be from architecture or urban planning/design.

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Metropolitan Adelaide urban heat mapping 2022

Unpacking the Summer: Learning About Heat in Adelaide

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Listening Over Coffee: Stories Behind the Data  The Post-Event Review Capability (PERC), developed by the Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance, offers a structured approach to understanding how and why hazard events escalate into disasters. In South Australia, this framework is being put into action to unpack the complexities of heat in an urban context. The Adelaide

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