The impacts of extreme heat on agrifood and natural systems
Extreme heat is rapidly becoming one of the greatest risks facing ecosystems, biodiversity, agriculture and rural communities worldwide.
While weather forecasts can predict heat events a few days ahead and climate models can project long-term trends, there remains a critical gap: we cannot reliably anticipate extreme heat impacts weeks to months in advance, nor predict their consequences for landscapes, crops, livestock and wildlife.
Closing this gap will require new forecasting capabilities and a deeper understanding of how biological systems respond to heat stress.
The Big Question
What would it take to create a Global Early Warning System for Extreme Heat that anticipates impacts on terrestrial landscapes?
A Global Early Warning System for Extreme Heat would need to provide actionable information on the likelihood of extreme heat, the vulnerability of natural and agricultural systems, and the biological impacts that are likely to follow.
The project will examine the observations, models, data streams and scientific understanding required to achieve this goal. It will identify major scientific and technical gaps, establish research priorities and develop a roadmap for future collaboration.
Why This Matters
Early warning systems have transformed our ability to prepare for floods, cyclones and bushfires.
Can we do the same for extreme heat and its impacts on nature and food production?
Answering this question could fundamentally change how governments, industries, land managers and communities respond to one of the defining environmental challenges of our time.
Together, we will
- Develop a shared framework connecting extreme heat prediction with biological impacts
- Design a rapid-response proof of concept ready for real-world testing
- Build new collaborations across climate science, ecology, agriculture and remote sensing
- Identify priorities for data, monitoring, infrastructure and investment
- Create pathways for collaboration between government, industry, research and funding organisations
- Lay the foundations for an international extreme heat early warning initiative
Our Goal
To create a practical proof of concept that connects prediction with biological response, demonstrating how early warning can help protect ecosystems, agriculture and communities from the growing impacts of extreme heat.
Help Shape the Future of Extreme Heat Early Warning
We're bringing together the people, knowledge and technologies needed to make extreme heat impacts more predictable and more manageable.
Whether your expertise lies in climate prediction, ecology, agriculture, remote sensing, environmental monitoring or decision-making, your contribution can help define the next frontier in climate resilience.
Join us to help shape research priorities, build new collaborations and contribute to a shared vision for a Global Early Warning System for Extreme Heat.
Solutions
An opportunity to hear from an international food security specialist, Dr Lifeng Li is the Director of the Land and Water Division at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). He oversees FAO’s work on soils, land, water, geospatial technologies, and climate financing through partnership with the Adaptation Fund.
From forecasting heatwaves to forecasting their consequences. Researchers, policymakers and industry experts are joining forces to predict impacts on agriculture, ecosystems and communities, enabling smarter action.
Heat Assessment and Tracking across Ecosystems and Agricultural Production Environments
From 40°C Córdoba to wintery Canberra, new research shows plants are near their thermal limits. Heatwaves quietly disrupt reproduction, ecosystems and food systems. Global collaboration, policy engagement and innovation are vital to build climate‑resilient agriculture and landscapes.
What stays with you after a great conference isn’t just the science - it’s the people, the conversations, and the connections that continue long after the event ends.
What happens when heat pushes life to its limits? Join ANU researchers who recently participated in the 47th New Phytologist Symposium, Extreme Heat: Extending the Thermal Limits of Life to unpack global research on extreme heat’s impact with a particular focus on what these developments mean for Australian natural and food production systems.