Cultural heat-avoidance practices, such as the siesta, used in hot climate zones around the world for many centuries, could provide strong protection against extreme heat caused by climate change, say the study's authors.

The study found that despite spending much more time in air-conditioned spaces over the past 40 years, people in the Northern Territories (NT) of Australia have paradoxically become more vulnerable to heat-related deaths.

The research was published in August in the online journal The Lancet Planetary Health.

However, Aboriginal communities in the NT are not more vulnerable to heat, despite a high burden of chronic diseases, socio-economic inequality, extreme housing disparities and much lower access to air-conditioned spaces.

According to the authors, the reason for this apparent discrepancy appears to be cultural.

Cultural heat-avoidance practices, as simple as the siesta to escape the hot afternoon sun, used in hot climate zones around the world for many centuries, can provide strong protection against extreme heat caused by climate change.

Even though the siesta has almost disappeared from places like Spain, recent extreme weather events in Europe could bring back this habit.

According to the authors, warm climate communities need to start considering socio-cultural means of adapting to warmer weather.

"In general, it is accepted that technological innovations like air conditioning are essential in preparing for warmer climates", said Dr. Simon Quilty, the lead author and a PhD candidate at the ANU's National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health.

According to him, the research shows that social and cultural practices developed by Aboriginal populations over generations, such as reducing physical activity during the hottest times of the day, are powerful mechanisms for protecting human health.

"An afternoon nap can help your body acclimatize, protect you from the hottest time of the day, it costs nothing and has no carbon footprint", says Dr. Quilty.

"There is a story of how Aboriginal culture and environmental knowledge have allowed extraordinary resilience in the face of extreme weather", he added.

The authors argue that these findings are important for shaping policies and designing housing in extremely hot regions of the world.

"While cool, air-conditioned spaces offer essential refuge during extremely high temperatures, prolonged periods spent in air-conditioned environments may hinder people from adapting to the prevailing climate", stated Associate Professor Aparna Lal, co-author of the study from ANU.

There are many such socio-cultural concepts of Australian Indigenous people that have allowed communities to thrive in hot weather for thousands of years, and researchers argue that policymakers need to start recognizing the importance of culture and listening to the knowledge of First Nations.

As extreme high temperatures become more frequent, Dr. Quilty believes that cultural change could be the most important tool we have to adapt to climate change.

It's time to learn from First Nations peoples and other societies from the past who used culture as a tool to thrive in hot climates, he said.

"Perhaps we should all take an afternoon nap when it's hot instead of turning on the air conditioning", the researcher added.