The appointment of chief heat officers in Melbourne is a significant recognition of the severe urban heat challenges in Australia. The two women appointed, Tiffany Crawford and Krista Milne, will lead efforts to manage extreme heat risks in the city. This initiative is part of a global movement supported by the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center to improve urban heat management. Various strategies will include monitoring urban heat, using cool pavement materials, and creating heat refuges. Despite existing research and tools like the Cool Routes project and the Urban Forest Strategy, Melbourne remains vulnerable to heat, particularly affecting those who are socially, economically, and physically at risk. These vulnerabilities highlight the necessity of considering gender, socio-economic, and housing status when designing and implementing effective and inclusive climate mitigation and resilience initiatives.
