London’s risk from rising temperatures

How is Air conditioned in public transport and public spaces not even a consideration in this consultation? Asking us 8 times how concerned we are about extreme weather doesn’t really help shape anything does it? 

The Elizabeth line is a decent example of a good commute option in this heat - we need trains and buses (and platforms?) with aircon retrofitted. It's the single biggest thing that could be done. 

Some kind of grant scheme or tax benefit for an indoor cooling system (thay doesnt completely wreck the environment like traditional aircon), or for reflective roof panelling, available for London homes given the intensity of the heat here.

Urban tree canopy expansions.

Public cooling centres like libraries and community centres. Public misting stations, more water fountains with clean water or bottle filling.

Enforceable standards for max temperatures in the workplace. My friend is an NHS worker and they don't have aircon in her office and the temp is above 35 on heatwave days.

Cool pavement trials - reflective or light coloured surfaces.

Just a few things off top of head.

The tubes and buses are by far the worst part of living in London in the summer, but there also needs to be more regulation on housing to ensure safe living standards in heat regulations. We have minimum temperatures, but maximums? High rises are built without the ability to open windows fully to regulate the air, old buildings built for harsh winters are left unchanged and uncared for, and both are rented out to tenants who cannot install proper AC, left to sweat and suffer through horrendous “heatwaves” - that in reality, are just the new normal of global warming.  

Can we have air-conditioning in tfl buses and tubes.It would make travel pleasant, specially for elderly who are no longer driving a car.It will help the environment as well,as less cars are used.Also can we have lifts or something on sides of the stairs in Arnos grove underground.

since I posted a comment about the closed bus stop on Betstyle rd ,N11.it has reopened.👍

London TFL must have air/co everywhere, buses are ovens nowadays people are really suffering because of the heat  

Opening the windows at night is a good suggestion if we live in a world were moths, spiders, daddy long legs and all sort of insects don’t exist. I hate opening my window at night because of the bugs I’m basically inviting into my room. 

I will never understand how a world capital like London can boil people alive at this day and age.

It's 2025, we know Summers will only get hotter. It's not news.

How come buses are boiling hot? I have almost fainted several times.

You cannot simply tell people to carry water then charge them to be roasted alive.

Most citizens don't get to decide what days and times they must commute, so don't pretend that is our choice either.

And what about shelter? Not only from the heat, but also rain. Where are the public spaces where pedestrians can take a rest?

And even without a roof: what happened to benches? How can one take a seat without it being in a commercial setting? What does this say about our society? Even big parks are short of benches! Any wide pavement and green area could benefit from it. Communities would benefit from it. Elder and low mobility citizens would be encouraged to get out more. Friends and families could stay outside. We could just feel like we belong in this city and not just run everywhere and be all about working, shopping, consuming, paying.

Let's go back to appreciating comfort. Let's make a city for the people.

Schools are major issue - the main building of mine is just over a century old and a literal oven in summer with AC only installed in computer rooms and not any general classrooms. Our uniform rules like tucked in shirts are still implemented even at break and lunch times and in 30°C+ heat, and during PE lessons many people are forced to continue despite feeling ill and telling teachers. Several have gone home after fainting and vomiting because of these situations.

The government needs to focus more on areas where people actually spend their time like schools, workplaces and transport as opposed to bus stops where people usually spend only a few minutes.

I’d like to note that we need specific temperature numbers for schools and workplaces to be able to close a receive funding from the government. Much like during COVID-19 when only Key Workers worked to keep risks minimal. Companies and buildings, should be able to prove they can keep workers and students safe. It’s too vague and schools especially should be able to rely on the government to issue a closure so they are not responsible and fearful of harsh feedback from parents and students. Many nurseries work out of converted church building that have no way of staying cool. Many school buildings are old and large and uniform is mostly polyester. I’d like to see the government encouraging the Keep Calm and Carry On again. We should be able to carry on the best way we can, but the government should be telling us even if it’s daily during a heatwave when it’s too hot to be sending children to nursery, kids to school, and workers to work. I do believe this would also encourage companies and schools to greater ensure safety as to not experience closure and the government to continue improvements to not have to compensate. 

Those noisy mopeds/motorbikes need to be banned, then we can keep our windows open, and not feel like we're living next to an F1 race track. 

Consider making more outdoor spaces Smoking Free zones. Otherwise you go outside for some cooler shade/air, only to be bombarded with second hand toxic smoke from cigs/vapes etc. :(

London Underground all year round is terrible. Especially the Victoria and Northern line. I wish all tubes had ac like the Elizabeth line. As a regular tube user, the temperatures even in the winter are extremely uncomfortable. And someone needs to sort out what is causing all that heat at Tottenham Court Road station! 

That day in 2022 took a toll me on me physically and mentally. I felt so fatigued and powerless, I spent the day sleeping in the living room because it’s the coolest room in the house. London homes, or any UK home, aren’t unfortunately built for summer. British winters are harsh, but so are summers, but unfortunately we can’t have both. Americans got lucky with their AC; with most being able to heat and cool their homes, but the electricity bill must be high. 

Green infrastructure and nature based solutions along with landscape architecture and policy focused on circular economy and climate adaptation should become more rigid 

The current housing infrastructure and most of the wider transportation infrastructure in London has not been built up for heatwaves. Carpets and lack of air conditioning make the situation worse. Air fans and getting away from London was the only way to escape the heat

After completing the survey I would have liked to see more questions about public transport! One of the things that make the heat unbearable in london is how hot the buses and tubes get. 

I have three suggestions. 

Firstly, all windows should be double glazed. I recently saw on Hackneys planning portal that an application to put in double glazing on a house was rejected because it was in a conservation area! Councils should not be allowed to ban double glazing like this, anyone should be able to put it in without a planning application.

Next, we should encourage the use of external roller shutters. These are used in all homes in Europe, we should learn from them. External blinds keep homes far more insulated than internal ones.

Lastly external bi-directional heat pumps (aka air conditioners) should be encouraged, and allowed to be installed without planning permission. These can be used to heat houses with green energy in the winter and cool homes in summer. 

 

Yet another survey designed and manipulated to get only the results they want to hear. If this is supposed to be a forum to allow people to have a say but not allowing anyone to vote for the use of air conditioning is hardly democracy in action. I completely understand the environmental impacts but in many cases it is the only option that actually works. The National Grid in the summer months is overwhelming powered by majority renewables and zero carbon sources so grow up and allow us to vote like adults rather than arrogantly dictating the options.