Urban areas where the heat-island effect occurs can make summer heat especially unbearable.

Melbourne’s western suburbs suffer from a lack of tree cover, averaging less than 6% tree canopy, compared with 26% for the eastern suburbs.

Melbourne GP and DEA member Dr Jennifer Conway, weighs in on heat and the importance of green space to our physical and mental health.

Dr Conway says the impacts on human health from heat will likely exacerbate as the planet heats up, and governments and town planners will need to take action to protect Australians.

Read the full story which was published in ABC online on 14 January 2023

image credit: Kaboompics.com