Destructive cyclones, extreme heat, back-to-back fires and floods … Australia was hit by a cascade of particularly intense events in 2023. Halfway through 2024, we’ve already seen cyclones, successive heatwaves and severe thunderstorms. Will this year echo the last?

This is hard to predict, but as climate change makes our world hotter, Australia will likely face more intense extreme events impacting all aspects of society. Cities and urban infrastructure are on the front line of the risks associated with these extremes. In Australia, more than 90 percent of the population lives in cities. To protect the lives and livelihoods of