State Heatwave Risk Assessment
The State Heatwave Risk Assessment (SHRA) is part of the suite of state risk assessments undertaken by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES), providing the foundational heatwave risk assessment for all tiers of government, non-government organisations, not-for-profit organisations, disaster management groups, and others with legislated roles in disaster management. It is the first, jurisdictionally-based risk assessment to feature long-term climate change projections using downscaled regional modelling undertaken by the Queensland Department of Environment and Science (DES).
SHRA was developed to provide all stakeholders with clear and consistent information regarding the changing nature of heatwave risk in Queensland. It was a collaborative effort between multiple stakeholders, coordinated through a working group led by QFES, Queensland Health, and DES.
SHRA found that the extreme heatwaves and bushfires across Queensland in 2018–2019 were an indication that the State is facing unprecedented challenges in understanding and responding to the impacts of natural hazards in a changing climate.
The assessment is intended to enable state agencies and disaster management groups to inform their planning against current and future heatwave risk whilst making a number of clear recommendations that, if enacted, would increase resilience to current and future heatwave risk.
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