Three international agencies have confirmed it: 2016 was the world's hottest year on record. That's now three years in a row, with records set in 2014, 2015 and now 2016.

With Australia already on average 8 degrees hotter than the average global land temperature, further warming means our heat risk is greater than other industrialised countries.

As Australia lurches from heatwave to heatwave, the message is clear: extreme heat is the new norm – so Australia needs to get “heat smart”.

This includes a National Strategy on Climate, Health and Well-being that will mitigate, adapt and protect the Australian community from the growing risks of climate change.

Read the full story from CAHA's president Dr Liz Hanna, Kathryn Bowen and Mark Howden.