Australia’s Indigenous housing won’t cope with climate change, research finds.

Abstract

Remote Indigenous housing models are not fit for purpose, and it will be quite difficult to remain in communities if nothing changes.

Regional and remote Aboriginal housing is not able to withstand climate change and will be unsuitable for future living, forcing people to consider migrating away from their traditional lands if nothing is done, research says.

Even the best-kept housing will not be enough to protect people from the worst impacts of climate change, according to the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI).

But the researchers also warned that even if existing housing is improved to deal with the heat, widespread over-crowding in Aboriginal communities would cancel out the benefits.

“Our message, in a nutshell, is: addressing climate change in Indigenous housing and health policy is imperative,” Prof Tess Lea from the University of Sydney said. “More housing is needed, and new design approaches are urgently required.”

Aboriginal people in Alice Springs say global heating threatens their survival
– The town had 55 days above 40C in the year to July 2019
– Central Australian outstations are running out of water
– Poor quality housing in town camps cannot be cooled effectively
– Indigenous leaders fear extreme heat will cause influx of internal refugees