How prepared are UK cities for climate change and environmental disasters?

The London Climate Resilience Review looked at London’s preparedness for climate impacts including heatwaves, floods, droughts, wildfires, storms, sea level rises and subsidence.

Preparing London for more frequent and extreme climate events is “non negotiable”.

The review published its findings in what’s a huge moment for London and also the whole country as it’s something that all major cities and conurbations can learn from.

Spoiler alert: We aren’t prepared

The review was requested after temperatures climbed into the 40s in 2022 which saw people losing their lives in the heat. London also experienced more than twice the average July rainfall in 2021 leading to widespread flooding.

It’s the first time a multiagency approach has been taken towards combatting climate change which is a huge turning point.

The chair of the review Emma Howard Boyd CBE said preparing London for more frequent and extreme climate events is “non negotiable”.

Her words may seem strong but when you consider there was a 50 percent increase in water consumption in July 2022 when reservoirs were at their lowest for 30 years, much needs to be done to protect lives and livelihoods from extreme weather, which will continue to occur more frequently as the years go on.

The findings so far

The predicted financial impact from climate change is reducing London’s GDP by between two and three per cent every year by 2050.

The main findings are Governments and businesses need to plan better because severe weather impacts healthcare, transport, energy provision and water supply.

A new reservoir for the South East has been suggested, and more homes and better infrastructure are both needed too.

There are also advisories the UK government needs to produce a national wildfire strategy and action plan by 2025 as we’re not used to wildfires being a common feature of summer heat but this is unfortunately now a big risk.

The report suggests around 43 percent of London properties, mainly built on clay, will be affected by subsidence by 2030. The predicted financial impact from climate change is reducing London’s GDP by between two and three per cent every year by 2050 – a huge economic cost to London.

Emma Howard Boyd said: “In 2024, we are set for another record-breaking year of deadly heatwaves, wildfires and storms. The Mayor of London took a world-leading step by calling for an independent review of London’s climate resilience. The health and security of Londoners and the health of the national economy are inseparable.”

Emma’s right and while the exercise in London has shown how ill prepared we are, it’s highlighted what needs to change which can only be a good thing, if actions follow as a result.

Pulling together and helping one another will make us stronger

We know our country and communities are stronger when we pull together – we need only be reminded of the Blitz spirit. We also know civic society – our libraries, community centres, neighbours looking after one another – has a great role to play in emergencies too as well as Government. Collaboration between agencies, such as fire brigade, police and health care workers, is vital but it’s also vital in streets and communities across the country to build resilience to manage the increasing destruction from global warming.

Later this year, the high Court will hold a judicial review of the Government’s National Climate Adaption Plan.

The legal challenge was filed by Friends of the Earth and two campaigners Kevin Jordan and Doug Paulley who cited personal experience of the climate crisis as their reason for the challenge.

Between these two reviews, the new government will need to make many changes to protect people and places from the growing impacts of global warming, caused by the pollution from burning oil and gas.

Heating up

The number of “very hot days” in the UK of 30C or more has trebled over the last few decades according to the Met Office’s State of the Climate report. Therefore a plan to cut pollution and keep people safe has never been more important.

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