Sweltering Cities
Working with communities across Australia to amplify real heatwave stories and advocate for community-driven solutions
Hear it direct from Emma
Heatwaves are Australia’s deadliest environmental disaster and cause more deaths than all other disasters combined. This environmental injustice affects some of our cities’ poorest and most marginalized communities – those with the fewest resources to keep themselves and their families cool and safe. Hear what Emma Bacon, the Founder and Executive Director of Sweltering Cities has to say.
Highlighting community stories.
Sweltering Cities emphasizes the significance of amplifying community member stories to highlight the real and diverse impacts of extreme heat on individuals. By sharing these personal narratives, the organization seeks to shift the perception of heatwaves from a personal challenge to a collective issue that requires communal action and policy change.
Busted Bus Stop
The Sweltering Cities initiative includes a program focused on cooling bus stops as a practical approach to mitigate the urban heat island effect, making public spaces more bearable during heat waves. This hyperlocal campaign underscores the importance of small-scale, community-driven solutions to combat the effects of extreme heat, emphasizing the need for shaded, cooler waiting areas for public transport users. By involving local communities in identifying and advocating for these changes, the program aims to demonstrate how targeted actions can contribute to broader urban resilience against rising temperatures.
Introduction
Sweltering Cities, under the leadership of Emma Bacon, is a pioneering initiative aimed at addressing the impacts of extreme heat on vulnerable communities in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in early 2020, the organization has expanded its reach across the country, focusing on the intersection of climate change, inequality, and health. The organization has a comprehensive focus toward making cities more livable, equitable, and sustainable amidst rising temperatures.
Founding and Mission
Emma Bacon, driven by her background in community organizing, campaigns, and a deep concern for the climate crisis, established Sweltering Cities. The organization emerged in response to the dire needs of people living in hot homes, particularly those afraid of using air conditioning due to high costs. Sweltering Cities seeks to change the narrative around extreme heat, treating it not as an isolated personal issue but as a community-wide challenge that requires collective action.
Strategies and Activities
Sweltering Cities operates on three main pillars: community organizing, strategic campaigns, and changing the narrative about heatwaves. The organization builds networks in western and northern Melbourne, focusing on residents in lower-standard and public housing. It develops campaigns based on community input, emphasizing tangible, winnable actions that address local heat impacts. Additionally, Sweltering Cities engages in direct media outreach and shares real-life stories on its website to highlight the broader implications of heat on public health and well-being.
Challenges and Achievements
Despite being in its early stages, Sweltering Cities has faced the challenges of high demand with limited resources and the need to persuade others within the climate movement of its unique approach. However, its success in rallying community support and framing heat as a political issue demonstrates the organization's impact. Sweltering Cities' work has led to significant community engagement, with initiatives like the uncovered bus stop campaign illustrating the hyperlocal aspects of heat mitigation and adaptation.
Support and Sustainability
The organization has grown from a part-time effort by Bacon to include additional staff supported by a mix of grants, donations, and local government funding. While fundraising remains a challenge, Sweltering Cities has secured commitments ensuring its operation for the next couple of summers. The organization's strategic focus may evolve based on the changing context and needs of the community it serves.
Future Directions
Sweltering Cities is committed to transforming how communities and governments perceive and respond to extreme heat. Through its innovative community-driven approach, it aims to catalyze systemic changes that ensure safer, cooler, and more inclusive urban environments. As it continues to gather stories and insights from affected individuals, Sweltering Cities is poised to make a lasting impact on heat resilience strategies in Melbourne and beyond.
This case study underscores the importance of grassroots initiatives in addressing climate adaptation and resilience, highlighting the power of community engagement and strategic advocacy in tackling environmental challenges.