Preparing London for extreme weather

The Review gathered evidence from individuals, communities and organisations including the NHS, Transport for London, London Fire Brigade, the Metropolitan Police, Borough Councils, the GLA (including here on Talk London), UK government, NGOs, the financial services sector, sports and cultural institutions as well as representatives of vulnerable groups.

They published their report on 17 July 2024. Alongside immediate dangers to people’s lives and livelihoods the Review found that government and businesses have not adequately planned for the disruption caused when severe weather impacts “cascade” through critical systems like healthcare, transport, energy and water.

The Mayor of London called for the Review in 2023 after parts of London received more than twice the average July rainfall in 2021, and Londoners died in 2022’s 40°C heatwave.

• Climate impacts in London happen together. The 40°C heatwave occurred at the same time as drought and wildfires, and heatwaves are often followed by flash flooding.
• The new government’s plans to build more homes and better infrastructure must include updating resilience and technical standards to cope with the weather extremes London can expect in the coming decades.
• The UK’s ageing population, and particularly older people over 65 in care homes, are at the highest risk of heat-related mortality.
• London and the whole of the south-east of England needs a new reservoir.
• The UK government should produce a National Wildfire Strategy and Action Plan by the end of 2025. That Strategy must reflect the increased risk of reduced water supply due to drought and therefore consider non-water-based fire suppression methods.
• The deadline for upgrading flood defences upstream of the Thames Barrier is 2050, and downstream it is 2040; a new Barrier is needed by 2070.
• London’s trees, and other green and blue spaces, are under threat from heatwaves, wildfires and windstorms. This weakens London’s resilience because trees reduce street temperatures in heatwaves and decrease flood risk. 
• Around 43% of London properties are likely to be affected by subsidence by 2030.
• Based on the work of the London Surface Water Strategic Group, UK government should create a Strategic Surface Water Authority for London, led by an independent and non-political Chair, to promote, enforce, and allocate funds in-line with a strategic London-wide approach to flooding.
• Initial analysis indicates climate change could impact London’s GDP by 2-3% every year by the 2050s, with costs increasing further in late century
   

The 168 pages long Review provides an assessment of London’s climate resilience. It also makes 50 recommendations for action to guide London’s preparations for more frequent and intense climate impacts.

You can see a summary of the Talk London feedback in Annex 2, from page 146.

Your areas of concern, as shared in our survey and discussion:

• Higher temperatures increase the need for cooling, both passive and air conditioning
• New building and tower blocks need to be resilient and with access to green spaces
• Stop paving over gardens
• Retrofitting to ensure existing buildings are made climate resilient
• More green infrastructure, tree planting – more nature in the city
• Public transport needs to adapt to a changing climate
• The loss of existing green infrastructure that helps to cool the city
• Public awareness and more education around what individuals can do
• Health and wellbeing