In 2023, the world witnessed the hottest year on record, accompanied by extreme heat, devastating droughts, and catastrophic flooding in many regions. Thunderstorms and severe hailstorms have been wreaking havoc in eastern Australia, causing property damage and tragic loss of life, including the lives of innocent animals.

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Animals are the silent victims of our escalating extreme weather events driven by human-induced climate change. Whether it be devastating floods claiming countless lives, raging fires, as seen in 2019-20, relentless droughts, or days when even the simplest means of cooling down remain elusive. We need animal owners and animal lovers to think ahead when high temperatures are forecast. To plan for pets, wildlife and livestock; give them shelter, water and preferably for cats and dogs, a cool indoor space.

But we also need our politicians, decision-makers, business leaders, to take decisive action to reverse climate change this decade. We have the technologies in clean energy and batteries to bring down emissions. We can restore our balance with nature. It is not enough to merely halt our reliance on fossil fuels; we must also embark on a mission to restore natural ecosystems. Our wildlife, our beloved pets and, ultimately, the survival of our children depends on these crucial steps.

Dr Gundi Rhoades has been a practicing veterinarian for 30 years, and is a member of Vets for Climate Action