The effects of the climate emergency are already being felt in London. The capital needs to build its resilience to severe weather events such as extreme rainfall, heat and drought, whilst also reducing its own contribution to carbon emissions.
Today, the London Assembly has published a report on what the current and future Mayors need to do to combat the climate emergency in London. The report makes a number of recommendations including:
- The Mayor should work with the boroughs and other partners to develop a lobbying strategy for a range of asks from central government.
- The Mayor should increase funding for feasibility studies and set-up costs for community clean energy programmes, and this should be backed by the provision of expert support to help ensure projects get off the ground.
- The Mayor should establish a workstream within Skills for Londoners focused on building skills and workforce capacity in the retrofit and energy efficiency sector.
Commenting on the report, Chair of the London Assembly Environment Committee, Caroline Russell AM, said:
“While minds are rightly focussed on the immediate response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this report underlines the need to shape future action that will not only make London more resilient to heatwaves, floods and extreme weather but that will also help rebuild a resilient economy.
“Our climate is already changing. Like the rest of the UK, London’s average summer temperatures are becoming progressively warmer. London is already vulnerable to flooding, drought, and heat.
“Action to prevent climate change, and adapt to its effects, can bring positive changes to people’s lives, especially for some of London’s poorest communities. Action like fitting homes with energy efficiency measures that in turn make them more comfortable and affordable to heat.
“The Mayor of London has a vital strategic role to play in all of this. Over the next ten years, London’s Mayors need to make bold decisions, work collaboratively, and use their powerful voice to push national government into action. The recommendations put forward in this report can help London’s Mayors to do so, for the benefit of this and future generations.”
Notes to editors
- The report is attached.
- This report represents the view of the majority of the Committee. The GLA Brexit Alliance Group’s dissenting views are set out in a minority report on page 23.
- Please note that this investigation was carried out prior to the social distancing restrictions in place to address the COVID-19 crisis; the evidence gathering meetings were held in January and February this year.
- Caroline Russell AM, Chair of the Environment Committee, is available for interview.
- Find out more about the London Assembly Environment Committee.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Aoife Nolan on 020 7983 4067. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.