Preparing London for extreme weather

We need clearer guidance for individuals, families and communities on what we can do - eg an app like Finland has. All levels of government need to enable the massive transition - current actions are very weak and in general limited to awareness and information instead of meaningful action.  We can all start with active travel, more plant based diet, greening our windowsills, gardens and streets, and creating a biodiversity corridor or rewinding London

Our current borough climate action plan is insufficient in scope, scale and speed to address climate change. Borough plans need to be sufficient for the challenge and implemented. Similarly the national government needs to meet its commitments set by the CCC and the most recent cross-party report

Itis important to install heat pumps and solar panels.  Pension funds need to be redirected this way toward Orsted, Vattenfall and SSE's wind farms.  We need to stop using private cars altogether.

Solar panels on all public buildings, heating pipes installed in open ground, build reservoirs, London water publicly owned, regular waterway cleaning, discourage Astro-turf, encourage wild gardens, plant more trees, discourage log burners, improve public transport in outer boroughs and improve connections between towns, subsidise water butts, provide energy saving surveys for home owners, subsidised loft insulation, increase charging points for electric cars, more cycle routes, invest in town centres, property developers should meet the needs of town planners (not the other way around), refurbish rather than knock down and rebuild, do we need an additional Thames Barrier? Emergency shelters should be allocated and prepared in advance of use, communities should be aware of their location.

Actions should the Review recommend:

1 Alot more consideration given to rain water run off in the city, especially in new properties. Rain water harvesting saves us 50% of our metered water use annually so people can save money very easily. Flooding is my number 1 concern at W14 8BG where the elevation is 7m AMSL. The Thames Barrier height is 7m. 

2 More solar panels 

Actions are I am  taking are:...................

1 We are now Zero carbon at home with electric heating and cooking. Gas meter has been disconnected.

2 We have rain water harvesting that captures all our rain water into tanks for use in our four cistern toilets and washing machine. This prevents self flooding in heavy rainfall, any overflows end up on our rear garden.

3 Our maisonette in a terraced 1850s Victorian house has an EPC rating is C assessed Dec2022 as a result of double glazing, LED lighting, internal wall insulation.

4 To support the National Grid we load shift all our electricity use to 00:30H to 04:30H period when we are on Octopus Go tariff of 9.50p/kWh. This has been achieved using a 12kWh Powervault house battery, a 40kWh Tepeo ZEB (Zero Emission boiler and thermal battery) and Mixergy smart hot water tank heated only with an emersion heater.

5 We have had an EV for the last five years, but take public transport whenever possible and cycle or walk when doing local erands

6 We have stopped flying, and staycation in UK using our EV. Any trips overseas are made by train only using the fabulous website ManInSeat61.

7 We have two large allotements where we are attempting to grow organically 40% of our fruit and veg needs. (One of the hardest things I have done in my life... all credit to farmers).

8 We are vegetarian almost vegan at home. Sometimes enjoy meat when dining out or with friends.

What might prevent you from taking action to prepare for extreme weather:

1 Very little, I am a retired engineer with extensive DIY skills and have a good pension that support our climate objectives and projec

• Make sure our sewers and drainage system can cope with torrential rain
• Provide more tree cover
• more green spaces where possible, including roof tops. 
• look for better ways of storing rain water for times of drought.
• make sure people living in basements and low lying areas know what to do in event of flash flooding
• have robust emergency plans to deal with flash flooding, fires
• Have cooler places where people can take refuge in very high temperatures
• make sure local authorities identify older, and/or vulnerable people live who may need help and support in times of flood,  extreme heat
• provide guidance to people on what to do when there is extreme heat  eg close curtains,  close doors and windows,  drink plenty of water etc.
• AS COMMUNITIES AND INDIVIDUALS:  identify vulnerable people and buildings and look to support them in emergencies.
• Know safe places to go in event of floods,  extreme heat etc.
• more renewable energy

Climate change is just the continuing evolving pattern that has been going on for millions of years, from the ice age to the millenia of the prehistoric creatures.     Man will adapt as ever until the day comes when we will either have evolved into a creature of those years or have succumbed.    Nothing we can do about it.

More tree cover cuts urban temperatures whilst improving air quality and making for a more pleasant place to live. Increased rooftop solar will help to reduce peak electrical demand at times of high temperatures (from air conditioning). More use of porous paving will help to mitigate flooding and run off. Increased use of water butts will help there too. 

Ultimately there are many measures that can be put in place, best practice on adaptation to climate change. There is clearly demand for them (as per the results of this survey) and many of them have multiple benefits. 

Definetely plant more trees and cut traffic. I'm all for the extended ULEZ scheme but I wish the very outdated "Red Routes" would go. The pollution from these are really bad and they go through residential areas with a lot of hospitals, schools and nurseries. The roads are overused and often crack and have burst pipes.
There are no good places, as far as I am  aware, to go and cool down. I'm disabled, I have Multiple Sclerosis and the hot weather affects me very badly.

Plant many more street trees to cool and clean the air, and soak up flood water, and continue to improve parks to be shady places to shelter from heat. Restrict resident dropped kerbs to where porous surfaces are in place. Retrofit buildings as a priority over building anew, but offer incentives to insulate buildings better. Increase oversight of building projects to ensure quality of build and effective insulation/heat retention...

Flooding - could be mitigated if our streets were cleaner and gutters and drains weren't clogged up with rubbish. Cleaning drains on a regular basis. Imposing more fines on those who litter and with stiffer penalties as a deterrent. Litter is more than just an eyesore. 
Hard landscaping - reclaim abandoned areas with planting. Encourage new builds to consider sedum rooftops and existing buildings where appropriate and also bus shelters.
Local authorities to pilot water collection options from guttering and other overflow areas which would help gardens / parks during dry spells and also divert water from drains during heavy rainfall easing pressure on the system. 
Encourage more green space to absorb water during heavy rainfall, provide more options for exercise and well-being, absorb carbon emissions. 
Local authorities to plant around school perimeters for the reasons above but also to screen playgrounds from car emissions to reduce incidences of asthma. 
Solar panels on public buildings to reduce dependency on gas-powered heating systems and reduce costs

 

Every level of government needs toget much tougher over carbon emissions and badly insulated buildings. Retro fitting should be the default position not redevelopment. Everyone seems to be doing too little too late. We need action now 2050 as a target just allows many different cans to be kicked down the road. The mayor must grip the problem as he has done with the ULEZ extension. 

Climate change is affecting not just London, but the UK as a whole and more importantly world wide.  The affects on us are minimal in comparison with what we've seen this week in Southern Europe and Libya, not to mention Pakistan and elsewhere.  Yet in the west we're cheerfully going about on our holidays etc without a care on the impact on others.  We all as individuals need to take responsibility for our own behaviour.  When it comes to protecting London, this is a national issue - i.e. the government's responsibility to provide improvements to the Woolwich barrier etc.  Unfair to put such costs purely on London residents.

Other than the obvious things that are already being done... I think more could be done in partnership with people over time. Perhaps negotiate some cheap provision of solutions and make them available. Please use properly thought out science and not your "academics for hire", spewing meaningless statistics which we don't believe in - eg ULEZ marketing.

Trying to remain positive...

Flood risk:

• Mandate rainwater is directed to soak aways or retention tanks, not to the sewage system.
• Replace parking hard surfaces with porous ones, to reduce sudden runoff.
• Encourage greater use of rainwater storage tanks for irrigation.
• Stop building in locations we know will flood.
• Consider the effects of sea level rise and plan now for low lying areas that will need to be given up.
• Don't let vegetation grow too long and then blow it into the street, where it blocks drains and causes floods.
• When resurfacing roads, ensure proper drainage is present and fix where its not adequate.

Wild Fires:

• Better management of green spaces. Don't have wild dry vegetation up against fences and houses. Build in fire breaks.
• Manage contractors and ensure that work is carried out on schedule.
• Plan vegetation that is less likely to produce catastrophic fires that are hard to control. Consider what is being planted carefully.

Heatwaves:

• Consider better insulating buildings and use of energy efficient technology for keeping people cool.
• Could flats/houses be designed to keep heat in and out?
• Does planting more vegetation allow for a cooler city - gardens may be a way to enhance that, so working together.

Storms:

• Proper management of trees and other vegetation would prevent the pavements and streets becoming a hazardous place to be during and after a storm (branches, etc).
• Keep street furniture maintained and consider removing some - there seems to be an ever increasing number of signs, cameras, poles, etc, associated with pet projects. Remove some!

I feel frustrated at the lack of leadership around climate change in London, the UK and globally. During the Covid crisis, we responded when we were asked to stay at home. Collectively this made a big impact. Where is the collective action when it comes to climate change? I try to change my behaviour but sometimes I feel it's pointless because I feel isolated in this action. If I felt part of a bigger move I would be encouraged to do more and encourage my peers to do the same. But for this we need leadership from the top. This means the Mayor of London, the local councils and the government. London and the UK are major contributors to climate change – so it is fair that we are among the leaders when it comes to modifying our behaviour, culture  and economy in a national response to this. 

A frustrating survey. London is already hit by extreme weatherbut relatively a lot less than Mediterranean countries, for instance - so hard to answer the question about that (and others). Adaptation is very important but mitigation even more so. I would have loved the discussion to be about that top priority!  

We cannot be taken seriously in London if we are spending £2.5 billion building infrastructure (the Silvertown HGVTunnel/ motorway) which increases carbon emissions and locks in car use. Money has to be spent reducing CO2 and preparing for the future effects of climate breakdown. It is utter madness to be building a new road for fossil fuelled vehicles and yet which has no cycling or cargo bike lanes. The Mayor of London has targets to reduce car use by 27-40% by 2030, so a new road like this is a massive waste of money. 

Practical measures. With degrees of shared responsibility. 
Home owners tend to tarmac over drives so surface flooding is an issue. 
So if discounted bulk bought water butts have their taps set to trickle or connected to slow soak away hoses. Homes that adopt such solutions could receive discounted council tax or water bills. 
On a larger scale catchment areas or storage tanks to collect excess Down pours and provide brown water for parks and potential fire risk areas. More ponds and lakes in parks - fountains. 
Taking away a business license to water company’s found to be negligent. Give other businesses a chance at running them or nationalise them and consider a volunteer workforce to help clean and clear waterways. 

Regulation that’s strong ie to allow Drive ways but to include methods to absorb excess downpours and slow its path into sewers - drains or  buried over flow water storage container. 
Better local tree and shrub planting to absorb this excess and provide shade and cover in times of drought. 
Essentially a wide well considered approach that helps residents reduce the overall bill that’s coming our way with pragmatic solutions that can be easily adopted en mass. 
Rain. Slow it down and store/use it. 
Resident. Business. Council. National. 
Drought. Better water use and  storage. Emergency supplies.

Fire prevention from drought. Cutting back removal of dead growth. 

Emergency plans envolving local community groups and  service teams. Supporting local rowing groups as on the Lee valley canals Etc   Or football teams that can be called upon to create fire breaks in return for the use of the public grounds they use themselves. 

Street wardens with a practise drill to follow. 
Reduction of tax and good service to the community awards for such people. 
A method to rate these individuals to provide  better training and give confidence that’s action plans can be implemented. 
It’s team leadership and management skills. 

Scouts,  girl guides. Religious groups, schools Etc.