Change is cool

Heatwaves are one of climate change’s most ferocious calling cards. While the black summer of 2019-2020 showed the scale of destruction heatwaves can cause, what many do not know is that they also act quietly and perniciously on our towns, streets and right inside our homes.

Heatwaves are a ‘silent killer’, responsible for more deaths than any other natural disaster. The work of responding to this threat also largely happens quietly, away from the headlines and political struggles. Local councils are on the front line and these are just some of the quiet achievements of my colleagues at City of Onkaparinga as they work to build the resilience of our region.

Jenni McGlennon heads up Onkaparinga’s sustainability team. In 2016, she commissioned heat-mapping for Onkaparinga’s urban