London’s risk from rising temperatures
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1026 Londoners have responded

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The summer of 2022 saw temperatures above 40°C, the highest ever recorded in England. Climate change could bring hotter, drier summers in London, with longer, more intense heatwaves.
City Hall’s Climate Adaptation team wants to hear your experience to help inform London’s first Heat Risk Delivery Plan.
Join the conversation
Thinking back to the heatwave of 2022:
- How did you cope with the heat in London?
- What helped you stay cool at home or while you were out and about?
- What made it better, and what made it worse?
Thinking of this summer:
- What, if anything, are you doing differently to cope with the heat in London?
- What, if anything, does London need to help you cope with the heat?
Please share as much detail as you can. Eleanor and Annette from City Hall’s Climate Adaptation team will be reading your comments and joining in.
About the action plan
The London Heat Risk Delivery Plan will set out the roles and responsibilities our city needs to manage heat risk. The recommendation for this action plan came out of last year’s London Climate Resilience Review.
Between March and September 2025, Londoners and stakeholders are invited to help inform the action plan. Read more on our background page.
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Community Member 4 weeks agoA lot of purpose-built flats don't allow leaseholders to make alterations to their properties that would help residents cope with the heat (e.g. fixed AC units, awnings, external shutters).
These flats are also often poorly designed to deal...
Show full commentA lot of purpose-built flats don't allow leaseholders to make alterations to their properties that would help residents cope with the heat (e.g. fixed AC units, awnings, external shutters).
These flats are also often poorly designed to deal with extreme heat (for example floor to celing windows with no heat rejection features that create a greenhouse effect when in direct sunlight). They will soon become unlivable in the summer if climate change continues to bring us hotter summers.
The Heat Risk Delivery Plan should require the property management companies of these types of flats to future-proof their existing properties for extreme heat.
Also planting more trees along the roads to provide a canopy is a win-win (good for the environment, makes an area look nicer compared to just drab grey streets and buildings and will provide shade from heat)
Show less of commentASharples
Community Member 4 weeks agoI am really surprised that the point around air conditioning isn’t being addressed. There is going to be more demand for AC going forward. Combined with the electrification of heating, London should be leading the conversation on installing...
Show full commentI am really surprised that the point around air conditioning isn’t being addressed. There is going to be more demand for AC going forward. Combined with the electrification of heating, London should be leading the conversation on installing air-to-air heatpumps across cities (over 80% of heat pumps installed in Norway are air-to-air, not air-to-water), which can tackle both heating and cooling needs. Planning support, financial subsidies, awareness campaigns… This feels like such a timely and big opportunity.
Show less of commentOrin
Community Member 4 weeks ago100% Agree
Jaydee9
Community Member 4 weeks agoLondon and other cities have contributed to the crisis by constructing far too many tall towers - most of which are badly designed and constructed - without considering the consequences. As the US has discovered tall buildings lock in heat...
Show full commentLondon and other cities have contributed to the crisis by constructing far too many tall towers - most of which are badly designed and constructed - without considering the consequences. As the US has discovered tall buildings lock in heat by blocking winds from cooling areas down. Where I live it has just become a massive concrete jungle and there is a noticeable increase in temperature because of it. None of the properties even have any air conditioning. It must be hell for those on the upper floors.
It has been shown too that super tall towers represent seventy per cent of carbon emissions. Some cities in the US have started to create gardens in the sky which offers natural cooling and improved air quality. However, I cannot see any of the developers or councils profiting from the never-ending building game considering such innovation, let alone the long-term implications of their plans.
Sooner or later the water and sewage systems in London will not be able to cope with the extra numbers and then we really will have a crisis.
Say NO to more development.
Show less of commentEternal
Community Member 4 weeks agoThe most simple and widely-used cooling methods known as air conditioners and fans are somehow not included in the survey. They are invaluable in most tropical countries that can afford them. People overheating outside can just walk into a...
Show full commentThe most simple and widely-used cooling methods known as air conditioners and fans are somehow not included in the survey. They are invaluable in most tropical countries that can afford them. People overheating outside can just walk into a business to cooldown and maybe spend some money there, too. I know you are big on environmental protection but letting people suffer over that just isn't it. There should be financial incentives for public spaces and homes to install and use A/Cs to get them up-and-running before the summers get unbearable.
Show less of commentadrievdl
Community Member 4 weeks agoI am shocked that planting trees and campaigning to stop people replacing their gardens with tarmac isn’t even on any list here. They should be!
ASharples
Community Member 4 weeks agoCompletely agree!
Show full commentCompletely agree!
Show less of commentmarypcbLondon
Community Member 4 weeks agowe tried putting foil on our windows but it felt like a waste of money as it fell off or blew away, so we invested in reflective blinds for windows that get direct sun, mostly suction blinds that we can remove but some fitted and while it...
Show full commentwe tried putting foil on our windows but it felt like a waste of money as it fell off or blew away, so we invested in reflective blinds for windows that get direct sun, mostly suction blinds that we can remove but some fitted and while it makes a difference, it's the double glazing we put in that made the most difference. insulation is really hard in a brick terrace, we need grants and funding and sustained investment to provide better insulation in the many London homes that were not designed to cope with the temperatures climate change is bringing.
Show less of commentlivehere
Community Member 3 weeks agoWe use mylar sheeting (survival bag stuff), with white fabric each side (it needs this to be effective at insulating and reflected radiant heat). E.g. pillowcases, some strongly sticky tape, and pieces of mylar cut to fit inside the...
Show full commentWe use mylar sheeting (survival bag stuff), with white fabric each side (it needs this to be effective at insulating and reflected radiant heat). E.g. pillowcases, some strongly sticky tape, and pieces of mylar cut to fit inside the pillowcases, hung inside the bay side windows. Our double glazing seems not to make any difference.
Show less of commentIeatgardenpeas
Community Member 4 weeks agoI would love there to be a maximum work temperature. There are people doing construction in non temp managed buildings, carrying heavy loads and working with machinery. It seems like 35 is well above a safe operating temperature with no...
Show full commentI would love there to be a maximum work temperature. There are people doing construction in non temp managed buildings, carrying heavy loads and working with machinery. It seems like 35 is well above a safe operating temperature with no official rules regarding water breaks or provision of fans etc. Never mind the hot commutes.
Show less of commentin_nunhead
Community Member 4 weeks agoRenewable energy systems should be mandatory on all new build developments.
wiggins
Community Member 4 weeks ago2022 kept shutters closed in all rooms of my flat (I saved up to buy them as an investment to keep cool in the heat & also to keep warm in the cold! Prior to that I had blinds which I kept closed). Kept window & door open when at home to...
Show full comment2022 kept shutters closed in all rooms of my flat (I saved up to buy them as an investment to keep cool in the heat & also to keep warm in the cold! Prior to that I had blinds which I kept closed). Kept window & door open when at home to allow 'cool' air to circulate; allowed extra time for travelling - with either water bottle or flannel to hand!). [Unfortunately think it's too unsafe to keep windows open at night or when I'm not at home.]
2025 (and years in between!) as above but my travel plans focus more on proposed time of travel & what's the best option e.g. I avoid bus journeys between 12-3pm as traffic is so bad that journeys take much longer and you feel as if your sitting in a cooking pot (& there's only so much water you can drink!).
But use your common sense: Wear a sun hat & take cool drink with you if travelling in hot weather (& wrap up in winter!)
More trees / planting to provide shade; less areas being tarmacked over; building regs to ensure all new builds to be suitable for hot/cold climates and any existing buildings being 'renovated' to have the same conditions - both private landlords/owners & big building corps/organisations.
Show less of commentHRPuffnstuff
Community Member 4 weeks agoWe can certainly plant more mature trees, install benches in shaded areas, and offer public drinking fountains. These are achievable goals.
Show full commentWe can certainly plant more mature trees, install benches in shaded areas, and offer public drinking fountains. These are achievable goals.
Show less of commentRAP
Community Member 4 weeks agoLook at how Paris has changed in 5 years, a similar challenging & iconic urban environment. Tree planting and greening areas & walls, SUDs helping in storms, all helping cooling/shading plus improving air quality and neighbourhoods. The...
Show full commentLook at how Paris has changed in 5 years, a similar challenging & iconic urban environment. Tree planting and greening areas & walls, SUDs helping in storms, all helping cooling/shading plus improving air quality and neighbourhoods. The tools and solutions are understood and well documented. The key is to also ensure it is focused where its needed or will give most benefits - those with least green spaces and high number of residents needs priority over central tourist hotspots
Show less of commentlivehere
Community Member 3 weeks agoSadly I don't think Mayor Khan is interested in these kinds of positive changes for London. He prefers to focus on getting the 24-hour city going in the West End. A waste of money compared to spending it on making London more liveable and...
Show full commentSadly I don't think Mayor Khan is interested in these kinds of positive changes for London. He prefers to focus on getting the 24-hour city going in the West End. A waste of money compared to spending it on making London more liveable and usable as it gets hotter and hotter.
Show less of commentritten
Community Member 4 weeks agoban councils from pollarding trees so late in the season. Locally they have been cutting the mature trees right into early June. We don't have any Tree canopy now, just lollipops. Poor birds and insects.
New flats built with only single...
Show full commentban councils from pollarding trees so late in the season. Locally they have been cutting the mature trees right into early June. We don't have any Tree canopy now, just lollipops. Poor birds and insects.
New flats built with only single aspect windows. Must be absolutely ghastly.
New developments which have heavily hard landscaped outside space and the odd small tree should be prohibited.
Show less of commentinsouciant
Community Member 4 weeks agoOut on my bike today, I really notice that where there's large expanses of asphalt and no trees (such as at big junctions), the heat is unbearable. We need less space devoted to cars and more big trees to provide shade and cooling.
insouciant
Community Member 4 weeks agoI'd love to install external roller shutters on my windows like they have in Europe, but I doubt my terrible social landlord, Eastend Homes, would ever facilitate that. They've got scaffolding up around our building for their disasterous...
Show full commentI'd love to install external roller shutters on my windows like they have in Europe, but I doubt my terrible social landlord, Eastend Homes, would ever facilitate that. They've got scaffolding up around our building for their disasterous vertical extension project, and they haven't even thought to use the opportunity of having that scaffolding up to replace our end-of-life double glazing. They're not going to be doing something so sensible as helping us better proof our homes against heat.
Show less of commentOokltd
Community Member 4 weeks agoWe have hot hot bedrooms under a baking flat roof. We had to fork out for air con and so glad we did. But it wasn't cheap and it's not available to people because of that. But people need it. You wouldn't live in a freezing house and people...
Show full commentWe have hot hot bedrooms under a baking flat roof. We had to fork out for air con and so glad we did. But it wasn't cheap and it's not available to people because of that. But people need it. You wouldn't live in a freezing house and people shouldn't have to live in boiling ones.
Show less of commentSueScott
Community Member 4 weeks agoFurther to my last post, people seem to rely on others doing things for them. Learn to help yourself - there are many organisations which will help. You can make a canopy for your own balcony, you can install blinds on your windows, you can...
Show full commentFurther to my last post, people seem to rely on others doing things for them. Learn to help yourself - there are many organisations which will help. You can make a canopy for your own balcony, you can install blinds on your windows, you can get a couple of fans fairly cheaply second hand. I have helped neighbours and they have helped me. Do something.
Show less of commentlivehere
Community Member 3 weeks agoWhat organisations can help people get air con or reflective blinds? None help HA tenants get insulation retrofitted to their blocks of flats or homes.
Show full commentWhat organisations can help people get air con or reflective blinds? None help HA tenants get insulation retrofitted to their blocks of flats or homes.
Show less of commentSueScott
Community Member 4 weeks agoI came to London when I was 23 and have experienced every type of weather throughout the seasons. As a child up North, I have experienced amazing heatwaves and freezing winters, likewise in London. I have managed to survive each one. The...
Show full commentI came to London when I was 23 and have experienced every type of weather throughout the seasons. As a child up North, I have experienced amazing heatwaves and freezing winters, likewise in London. I have managed to survive each one. The weather in this country is totally unpredictable and there is nothing much we can do about it, which will make much difference. People need to look after them selves - wrap up warm in the Winter and wear as little as possible in Summer - wear hats, sunblock and carry water. Many shops, offices and buildings have air con, so do many cars and public transport. If people took more care of themselves, we would have fewer problems. Other nations survive far more extreme climates!!
Show less of commentJade D
Community Member 3 weeks agoI think you are underestimating people here. I know Northerners are meant to be tough but I think all of we poorer folk who cannot rely on external assistance (the Bank of mum and dad comes to mind), and we have had to learn how to make do...
Show full commentI think you are underestimating people here. I know Northerners are meant to be tough but I think all of we poorer folk who cannot rely on external assistance (the Bank of mum and dad comes to mind), and we have had to learn how to make do for ourselves. One issue is that whilst we are used to cold and wet in the UK, we simple are not used to some weather conditions, including sweltering heat waves. If we share cheap solutions then we can help each other, rather than criticising.
Show less of commentlivehere
Community Member 3 weeks agoOther nations know how to do it! If people took more care of themselves - I am actually prevented from making changes to my home to improve insulation by my landlord. And they aren't going to do it. Very many people don't have the money or...
Show full commentOther nations know how to do it! If people took more care of themselves - I am actually prevented from making changes to my home to improve insulation by my landlord. And they aren't going to do it. Very many people don't have the money or skills to make essential changes, and actually there is no help available in very many places.
Show less of commentFrances74
Community Member 4 weeks agoIt's ridiculous that the majority of flats in London do not have a balcony. I rent privately in an old Council estate and I am obliged to use the drying machine every other day. I use buses a lot and many stops do not have a cover to repair...
Show full commentIt's ridiculous that the majority of flats in London do not have a balcony. I rent privately in an old Council estate and I am obliged to use the drying machine every other day. I use buses a lot and many stops do not have a cover to repair from sun or rain. If London is becoming like a Southern Italian city, it needs the same infrastructures, and fast.
Show less of commentpierre13
Community Member 4 weeks agoFrankly London needs to learn from major big cities already been exposed to heat waves
1-insulated building : walls, double glazing windows
2-install awnings on balconies
3-heat pump reversible with A/C
4- plant trees and create water...
Show full commentFrankly London needs to learn from major big cities already been exposed to heat waves
1-insulated building : walls, double glazing windows
2-install awnings on balconies
3-heat pump reversible with A/C
4- plant trees and create water fountains on square
Build swimming pool like Vienna Copenhagen including in docks like canary wharf Royal dock etc
5 use river Thames banks like in Paris to create cool promenade and get rid of stupid RIBs for noise and carbon pollution
6-limit car traffic when temperatures is sky high like in Paris Barcelona etc.
7-get proper A/C on buses and again like on the continent Nice Marseille etc
8- solar panels on supermarkets car park providing electricity and shade for cars
Show less of commentMiceElf
Community Member 4 weeks ago1 forbid Ciuncils from removing street plants which they call weeds. Every plant, even small ones, make the streets cooler and ban glyphosate
2 plant as many trees as possible, and , importantly keep them watered until established.
Show full comment3...
1 forbid Ciuncils from removing street plants which they call weeds. Every plant, even small ones, make the streets cooler and ban glyphosate
2 plant as many trees as possible, and , importantly keep them watered until established.
3 install bus shelters the same as in Canary Wharf which use solar heat but remain cooler.
4 reduce motorised traffic by every means possible. And prioritise pedestrians over motorists.
5 invest in public fountains
6 plant drought tolerant plants in public troughs and beds
7 ban portable BBQs
8 give grants to shopkeepers to install shade canopies across the streets.
9 increase the number of public drinking fountains
10 incentivise flat dwellers to install and maintain window boxes and green walls. In Austria they have a small reduction in Council tax and the streets are lovely. And cooler.
Show less of comment11 forbid hard standing in front gardens.