London’s risk from rising temperatures

Hello everybody! I believe for thousands of us the main issue is buses without AC; I realize that would be a costly improvement but will save many people gloing to A&E, and also sometime might only be to instruct the driver correctly to turn the AC on where available; new buses are ok but they are a minority and going forward this should really be  plan for London TfL and various departments as will get hotter and buses will be our main transport - aside tube and bicycles which are not for everybody... :-)

Make it legal for new builds to have air conditioning. We are so focused, in this country, on insulating homes from the cold and wet, which is great. My flat is nice and warm in the winter, sure.  But it is an absolute oven in the summer. In 2022 it was unbearable- the survey asks “what did you do to cope?”. I bought an air conditioning unit; if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have got any sleep for three weeks. 

Planning regs for floor size and fire escapes mean that most new builds are single aspect- this means there is no through draft. Change this. 
Air conditioning is effectively banned- change this. 
Sash windows are also effectively banned on safety grounds- change this. 
Stop worrying about the extremes of cold, which we have largely solved. The planet, and London, is getting hotter- try to solve the problems we are going to have, not the ones we had in the 20th century. 

And for those saying air conditioning is bad for the environment, just eat less meat and fly less etc- what makes you so defeatist? Temperature increase is already baked in, and air conditioning will become more necessary, not less. 
We have access to this technology now, so it should be used. In the UK we are already at 50% renewables and rising- when we get to net zero, will you still be against air conditioning then? If not then why not use it now, when we are actually one of the countries in the world doing better at getting energy from renewable sources?

Please for the love of god just put aircon on the tube 

One of the key things that would make it better is public transport with proper air conditioning - something that this survey completely missed. 

More mass tree planting and green spaces across London will provide shading and reduce reflective heat. In Camden there are areas that have been depaved and planted up which is a good start. Look at models from cities like Rotterdam. 

The tubes are unbearable at the moment, in these extreme heats. We’re in the 21st century surely air conditioned tubes and plastic seating instead of warm, dirty material seats should be something that should be introduced by now? 

So many great things suggestions already regarding infrastructure and transport. Speaking as someone with young children in a small flat without a garden, it would hugely helpful to have more trees (or awnings or something) for shade in all playgrounds and around splash pads (e.g. next to the benches by the fountains in Granary Square, where parents are boiling in the beating sun while their children splash away, or around the seating area in Ruskin Park paddling pool) and to instal some sort of water play facilities in all larger parks. Quite a few like Peckham Rye or Hilly Fields already have water pumps installed, but there are rarely switched on. 

I actually took my driving test on this day. What I remembered from it was the day in my house was utterly blistering hot. We lived in a Victorian terraced house, shut all the doors, windows and blinds and didnt open them till it was cooler. It was still awful. 

Then at the centre of the day I took the driving exam in a car with air conditioning. That was lovely. 

To cope better with the heat we need to implement a better understanding on a domestic level of how to passively cope with it instead of relying on air conditioning. How installing, awnings, shutters, and blinds - creating distance through shade between your home and the sun, can make a real difference to the temperature inside. 

If there are government subsidies for solar panels, I feel this equipment should also be available as a benefit to improve the passive performance of people’s homes to cope with the 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.