Extreme Heat Is Harming Remote First Nations Communities. It's Time We Listen to Them

Extreme heat is harming remote First Nations communities. It's time we listen to them

In remote Australia, First Nations communities battle extreme heat each summer. In January 2026 alone, the town of Alice Springs (Mparntwe) endured 20 days of temperatures above 40°C (104°F). This prolonged heat wave—defined as a period of unusually hot weather—can have long-lasting effects on human health, infrastructure and the environment.

Extreme heat is harming remote First Nations communities. It’s time we listen to them

Patsperspective/GettyIn remote Australia, First Nations communities battle extreme heat each summer. In January 2026 alone, the town of Alice Springs (Mparntwe) endured 20 days of temperatures above 40°C. This prolonged heatwave – defined as a period of unusually hot weather – can have long-standing effects on human health, infrastructure and the environment. In remote communities, many homes trap heat. This is because houses are not typically d…