I’m writing this as the CEO of the Climate Council, and also as a mum of two young children. Every time the temperature is forecast to soar into the high 30s and even 40s, the same question hits: how do I keep my kids safe? Not just comfortable. Safe.

What’s often missed in the national conversation is that extreme heat is already one of Australia’s deadliest hazards. Between 2001-18, nearly 500 heat-related deaths were reported to coroners in Australia. More recently, a study estimated 1009 Australians died due to heatwaves between 2016 and 2019, with Queensland and NSW recording the highest death tolls.

The devastating fires in Victoria on the weekend.Credit: The Age

In recent days, fires have left scenes of devastation across Victoria, with the loss of homes mounting. Meanwhile, large swaths of the country have experienced severe to extreme heat, from Western Australia across South Australia, NSW and Tasmania. Daytime temperatures pushed into the mid to high 40s, with overnight minimums in the mid-20s, offering little relief........

© The Sydney Morning Herald