In the face of climate change, Australian cities are prone to enduring heatwaves through the sweltering summer months. During heatwaves, our cities are vulnerable to soaring temperatures, potentially crossing temperature thresholds above which the danger lies for vulnerable members of the community.
Dr Judy Bush is a Research Fellow, Clean Air and Urban Landscapes Hub at The University of Melbourne. Through shining a light on stories from Australians living in highly populated urban areas, as well as the policy mechanisms of local and state governments, Judy’s research points to the role that sustainable precincts can have in mitigating the risk and impacts of heat-related disasters.
“We need to look at precincts as thriving systems for green infrastructure and placemaking across Australia’s cities. By creating green spaces, we bring to life liveable cities and communities that people are drawn to,” explains Judy.
“Research in this field also explores the triple bottom line benefits for developers incorporating green spaces into precincts, even despite the cost of land use and maintenance.”
“Urban green spaces can create a cooling effect that will see this number drop by several degrees – which may be enough to save lives.”
