Thinktank Falsely Claims "Heat Deaths Aren't a Thing" to Coalition MPs

In a concerning move, the Centre for Independent Studies (CIS), a free market thinktank in Australia, has been trying to convince Coalition MPs that they should not support policies to help the country reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions. As part of this effort, the CIS gave a presentation to Coalition MPs in Canberra this week, claiming that "heat deaths aren't a thing."

This claim directly contradicts the findings of Australia's National Climate Risk Assessment, which shows that the risk of heat-related deaths in cities like Sydney and Melbourne is expected to more than double if global warming reaches 3°C. The report found that at 2°C of global heating, the number of estimated heat-related deaths in Sydney would rise by almost 200%, and in Melbourne, they would more than double.

Experts have strongly pushed back against the CIS's misleading claims. A spokesperson for the Australian Climate Service, which compiled the risk assessment, stated that heat-related mortality is likely to increase at locations across Australia under 3°C of global warming. They noted that extreme heat adds risk for many leading causes of death, including cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, dementia, and diabetes.

Furthermore, a recent report from the medical journal Lancet found that heat-related deaths around the world have increased by 63% since the 1990s, with an estimated 980 heat-related deaths per year in Australia - an 83% rise. Researchers argue that the true toll of heat-related mortality is likely being substantially underestimated.

As the CIS continues to downplay the deadly impacts of climate change, it is crucial that policymakers in Australia heed the warnings of scientific experts and take urgent action to address the growing public health threat posed by extreme heat.