As Sydney Heats Up, Extreme Heat Awareness Day Drives Awareness and Action

Australia’s Extreme Heat Awareness Day (EHAD) on 4 February 2026 marked a major step forward in responding to rising heat risks, with the largest national mobilisation on extreme heat to date. Led by Australian Red Cross and Sweltering Cities, the day brought together councils, community groups and advocacy organisations to increase understanding of extreme heat — Australia’s deadliest natural hazard.

Record engagement and growing public awareness

This year saw unprecedented council and community involvement, with more local events, shared safety resources, and residents creating heat action plans. Australian Red Cross promoted simple, lifesaving steps as extreme heat continued to cause more fatalities each year than bushfires, floods and cyclones. Sweltering Cities worked with community leaders and organisations across the country and hosted Hot City, Cool People in Parramatta, bringing together more than 150 people to discuss heat impacts and solutions.

Cross-sector collaboration also strengthened, uniting councils, health services and emergency responders to deliver consistent public messaging and support vulnerable communities.

New PERC heatwave research released

To complement this growing public momentum, Australian Red Cross, in partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Zurich Australia, Zurich Insurance Group Ltd, ISET-International and Monash University, released new extreme heat findings through the Post Event Review Capability (PERC) program. The 2024–25 Adelaide heatwave study — the first PERC focused on extreme heat — examines how prolonged high temperatures expose systemic weaknesses across housing, transport, health systems, workplaces and essential infrastructure.

Key insights showed that extreme heat is rapidly intensifying, many workers face dangerous conditions without adequate protections, and the normalisation of heat can undermine preparedness.

The Adelaide PERC study also strengthens the Urban Climate Resilience Program (UCRP). UCRP brings together global actors — including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), ICLEI, C40 Cities, R-Cities and Plan International — to advance climate resilience initiatives in urban contexts across nine countries. Funded by the Z Zurich Foundation, Australian Red Cross, in partnership with Zurich Australia, is leading UCRP implementation in Australia with a focus on Western Sydney.

PERC reports can be found here: Understanding extreme heat | Australian Red Cross

A turning point for heat resilience across Greater Sydney

As temperatures continue to rise and extreme heat events become more frequent, Extreme Heat Awareness Day is emerging as a pivotal annual initiative for local governments. The amplified national engagement seen in 2026, paired with new research from PERC, reflects a broader shift toward proactive, evidence-based planning to reduce heat-related harm.

For the councils of Greater Sydney and beyond, the message is clear: now is the time to invest in heat-smart leadership, expand community engagement and turn growing public awareness into lasting resilience.

For more information and resources:

Australian Red Cross: Extreme Heat Safety: How to Prepare for Heatwaves | Australian Red Cross

Sweltering Cities: swelteringcities.org