Adapting to Climate Change

Lessons for London

In early 2006, the London Climate Change Partnership commissioned the consultants acclimatise, to review how other major international cities are managing climate risks. The aim of this review was to:

• provide the London Climate Change Partnership with international case studies for climate change adaptation; and
• inform the formation of climate adaptation planning policies for London, especially the Further Alterations to the London Plan.

Some major international cities are beginning to prepare for climate change, and some are dealing with climatic conditions today that London will experience in the coming decades. The London Climate Change Partnership wants to ensure that London can learn from good practice in these cities on how to cope with climate risks.

The review examined 18 cities, to understand how they are addressing the following climate risks, which are expected to intensify in London over the coming decades due to climate change:

• flooding,
• limited water resources,
• high temperatures.

The primary audiences for this report are London’s policy-makers and decision-makers, including the members of the London Climate Change Partnership, the Mayor of London, the Greater London Authority (GLA), government departments, the London Boroughs, developers, utilities, and their regulators. It is also relevant to similar organisations in other cities.

• Adapting to climate change - Lessons for London PDF, July 2006
• Adapting to climate change - Lessons for London RTF, July 2006