“There’s a 98 per cent chance of the hottest year on record coming in the next five years and a 66 per cent chance of exceeding the critical 1.5°C warming
This chilling forecast was made by the World Meteorological Organization and published in The Conversation in May, 2023. Reading it made me very worried.
Now, as we head towards the end of another year, we’re looking at the start of warm weather, the bushfire season and possible the arrival of that forecast hottest year on record.
Some areas may already have experienced bursts of hot weather and be dreading what lies ahead. Chances are, if you have a weather app on your smart phone, you’ll be notified about forecast extreme heat conditions in your local area over the months ahead.
Even in cooler regions such as Tasmania, where I live, heatwave warnings were issued last summer although temperatures in my local area rarely exceed 24°C. This temperature might sound cool for summer in Australia but, in a cool climate, it can constitute a heatwave!
So, what can you do to help yourself, your family, your garden and its resident wildlife — including insects and pollinators — survive the heatwave?
Creating a cool, green oasis can do more than make your own space comfortable; it can affect your entire local area.
The good
