London climate resilience is “non-negotiable,” Mayor’s report finds

Preparing London for more frequent and extreme climate risks is “non-negotiable” and the new government should embrace the opportunity to reset UK climate resilience. That’s according to Emma Howard Boyd CBE, chair of the London Climate Resilience Review, which was published last week.

The independent report into the capital’s preparedness for climate impacts including heatwaves, floods, droughts, wildfires, storms, sea level rise and subsidence was commissioned by the Mayor of London following successive extreme events – including parts of London receiving more than twice the average July rainfall in 2021, and multiple Londoners dying in 2022’s 40°C heatwave.

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.

Among the key points in the report were: 

• 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.

• 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.

• Based on the work of the London Surface Water Strategic Group, the 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.

• Around 43% of London properties are likely to be affected by subsidence by 2030.

• 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 Review identified six areas for urgent attention and made 50 recommendations for action to the Mayor of London, and the new national government. The six areas for urgent action and attention were: 

• A strategic, London-wide, action plan on heat risk is needed. 

• London is not prepared for another major surface water flooding incident and lives and livelihoods are at risk. 

• London must accelerate work to understand cascading risks and system interdependencies within and beyond London’s boundaries. 

• National, regional, and local governments must do more to enable investment in climate resilience. 

• Londoners should be engaged on climate impacts. 

• All the above must be coordinated strategically with a shared regional vision and framework for adaptation. 

  
  

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan accepted the recommendations and vowed to take them forward in partnership with the national government and others.

• The Climate Change Committee’s 2024 Progress report to Parliament, published last week, said climate adaptation must be strengthened as a priority. According to the committee: “The UK’s Third National Adaptation Programme (NAP3) lacks the pace and ambition to address growing climate risks which we are already experiencing. NAP3 must be strengthened with a vision that includes clear objectives and targets. Government policymaking needs to be reorganised so that adaptation becomes a fundamental aspect and is embedded in other national policy objectives.” Elsewhere the report praised emissions reductions achieved to date but warned rapid progress is needed to make up lost ground, following the last government’s cancellations, delays and exemptions to important policy strands. “Our assessment is that only a third of the emissions reductions required to achieve the 2030 target are currently covered by credible plans. Action is needed across all sectors of the economy, with low-carbon technologies becoming the norm,” the committee said. Read more at: https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/progress-in-reducing-emissions-2024-report-to-parliament/