Western Sydney to endure 52 extreme heat days by 2090
Western Sydney residents will have to endure five times as many extreme heat days by the end of this century, new research predicts. Local councils are putting in place strategies to mitigate the rising urban heat effect.
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Western Sydney residents are used to sweltering summer days — but by the end of this century there could be fives times as many to endure.
Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils has called for a co-ordinated approach to managing a potentially deadly urban heat crisis, as analysis from The Australia Institute warns one in seven days will see temperatures pass 35 degrees by 2090 on current emissions levels.
The Western Sydney Heatwatch report, based on CSIRO models, predicts the number of extreme heat days in the west will rise on average from 11 to 52 per year in that period.
Richmond would be the hardest hit with 67 days over 35 degrees, while Penrith (59), Camden (52), Blacktown (50), Parramatta (43) and Bankstown (37) will also suffer.
The report also predicts the number of days exceeding 40 degrees would skyrocket from one to 12 per year in the region by 2090.
Richie Merizan, the institute’s climate and energy director, said current emission levels posed a “serious threat” to health and wellbeing of residents.
“Heatwaves are already the biggest killer of all natural disasters in Australia. If these increases are allowed to occur, they will cause many more heat related deaths and illnesses,” he said.
“Fortunately this is not inevitable. CSIRO projections show that if we take action and reduce emissions we can prevent virtually all of these rises.”
Mr Merizan said climate policies to keep warming below 1.5 degrees could see the predicted number of 35-degree days slashed to 19 per year in 2090.
Charles Casuscelli, chief executive of WSROC, said the research validated previous analysis conducted by the councils and the University of NSW.
Mr Casuscelli said local government was best placed to make changes in communities to mitigate the rising urban heat effect caused by development.
“People don’t seem to realise that if you deal with urban heat it fixes other problems … liveability is enhanced,” he said.
“The urban heat problem is pointing to fundamental problems across the spectrum.”
WSROC will soon release its Turn Down the Heat strategy, which Mr Casuscelli said provided a “framework” to co-ordinate plans around planting trees, designing new living precincts and increasing shade for communities.
Western Sydney already experiences temperatures six to 10 degrees higher than eastern Sydney, the report states.
Penrith currently sees 13 days per year when the mercury surpasses 35 degrees, which could be 22 in the year 2030. It could have 14 days over 40 degrees by 2090.
Blacktown’s 35-degree days would rise 500 per cent from 2010 levels to 50 in 2090, more than double the predicted 22 in 2050.
Richmond’s 40-degree days are predicted to increase tenfold to 17 per year in 2090.
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