Preparing London for extreme weather
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930 Londoners have responded | 12/09/2023 - 15/10/2023

Despite climate action, the impacts of climate change are already visible in London. There are more extreme weather events like flash flooding and heatwaves.
Last summer, temperatures rose above 40°C for the first time. Schools were closed, hospital operations were cancelled as systems crashed and wildfires caused the busiest day for the London Fire Brigade since the Second World War.
In 2021, flash flooding damaged thousands of homes and businesses. London is vulnerable to flooding because there are lots of hard surfaces across the city. This affects homes and critical services such as hospitals, schools, and Underground stations.
To help London prepare for more extreme weather and adapt to its changing climate, the Mayor of London has set up the London Climate Resilience Review.
The Review is led by an independent team. They are exploring what needs to be done at a local, regional and national level to reduce the impact of climate change on Londoners’ lives and livelihoods.
Before they make their recommendations to the Mayor in December 2023, the Review wants to know what you think:
- What actions should the Review recommend be taken by government or businesses to address heatwaves, storms, floods and/or wildfires?
- Are you actively preparing for severe weather on an individual or community level? If so, what actions are you taking?
- What, if anything, might prevent you from taking action to prepare for extreme weather?
We’ll share your anonymous contributions with the Review. They may use a quote from your evidence in their report.
The discussion ran from 12 September 2023 - 15 October 2023
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Community Member 1 year agoWe are building TOO MANY TOWER BLOCKS! These are pumping heat out into the atmosphere 24 hours a day, 365 days a year - aircraft fly by, cars go by, but the buildings are fixed, steadily pumping heat from central heating, lifts, washing...
Show full commentWe are building TOO MANY TOWER BLOCKS! These are pumping heat out into the atmosphere 24 hours a day, 365 days a year - aircraft fly by, cars go by, but the buildings are fixed, steadily pumping heat from central heating, lifts, washing machines, electrical equipment, air conditioning, hot water, cooking equipment, human body heat, all of it going out so high up, & then there is additional water damage too, as well as dirty water & sewage concentration from all floors flushing down into the sewers, gas & electrical piping & of course water pumping up through all floors to the very top floor.
Show less of commentsuburb1
Community Member 1 year agoAbsolutely! Every word you said is right. Nobody will accept there needs to be a world, a national and a local limit on overpopulation.
Therefore all UK parties agree to stack in cities, which MPs and anyone else who is equally rich can...
Show full commentAbsolutely! Every word you said is right. Nobody will accept there needs to be a world, a national and a local limit on overpopulation.
Therefore all UK parties agree to stack in cities, which MPs and anyone else who is equally rich can mainly avoid, other than as an occasional glance from a chauffered car, on the way to one of their alternative multiple residences. (Where they meet the NHS GP at the golf course, so get the best of both private and public services. Did you know they have their own 'private' NHS A&E over the river from Westminster?)
Underground heat recovery has been retrofitted in Ireland for decades, yet is never mentioned in UK, (well funded lobbyists absent?)
Burning rubbish for power, instead of sending to landfill, is the best way to deal with waste (other than by having far less of it)
BAN BURNING. NO BONFIRES. NO WOODBURNING.
But stop all building. It is all done to non-climate resistant standards (non-disabled friendly, too) Nobody Can Build Faster Than Millions Can Arrive. Building won't touch homelessness.
buildmorehouses
Community Member 1 year agoMore compulsory air conditioning units in new builds and renovations bc it’s only going to get hotter for the foreseeable future and it’s more energy efficient and effective than more and more people resorting to the mini mobile units with...
Show full commentMore compulsory air conditioning units in new builds and renovations bc it’s only going to get hotter for the foreseeable future and it’s more energy efficient and effective than more and more people resorting to the mini mobile units with the vent hoses dangling out of their windows. Obviously need to support this with aggressively decarbonised national grid, would like to see more drive to build nuclear sites to provide the level of energy required to not need fossil fuels to do the heavy lifting.
Show less of commentsuburb1
Community Member 1 year agoYes but no but: Better to ban all buildings including those already given consent: Back to the drawing board and make them climate resistant by design, not depending on machinery.
Building is not the solution to homelessness. Population...
Show full commentYes but no but: Better to ban all buildings including those already given consent: Back to the drawing board and make them climate resistant by design, not depending on machinery.
Building is not the solution to homelessness. Population limits are. Nobody Can Build Faster Than Millions Can Arrive.
Show less of commentlivehere
Community Member 1 year agoAnd ALL air conditioning should be fitted with virus filters. Astonishing that this has not been implemented already.
Show full commentAir conditioning cannot be retrofitted for thousands of residents in flats and houses in London because of the noise...
And ALL air conditioning should be fitted with virus filters. Astonishing that this has not been implemented already.
Show less of commentAir conditioning cannot be retrofitted for thousands of residents in flats and houses in London because of the noise problem with the mini-splits etc. The same with the freestanding units. Yet it is possible to produce almost silent fans to go in these units, that would reduce the noise level and make them acceptable for home use. Toroidal fan blades!!! The electricity use of all the extra air con could be offset by using solar panels that will fit over people's windows, and by using vibrational energy production. More resources please for these technology developments and production start-ups.
richardatkins
Community Member 1 year agoI believe that London can be made ready for more severe weather by simply planting far more trees.
Sounds daft, however trees soak up water, reducing flash floods in heavy rain. They create shelter in heat waves. They suck up pollutants from...
Show full commentI believe that London can be made ready for more severe weather by simply planting far more trees.
Sounds daft, however trees soak up water, reducing flash floods in heavy rain. They create shelter in heat waves. They suck up pollutants from the air.
More LTNs, less cars, etc.
Where to plant more trees? Mandate that new building sites must have new trees planted, squeeze in a few in existing green spaces. Remove some parking spaces.
By encouraging more car sharing we need less cars and have more space.
Show less of commentrjbrooks
Community Member 1 year agoI agree that planting trees is a good idea but it doesn't help when the new saplings are left to die because builders think that they will look after themselves. They need watering. Local people need to look after their environment
suburb1
Community Member 1 year agoGood ideas, but not only trees, as a one-size solution. The saplings will not survive. We have drinking water in the world for only an estimated 9 years. Other plants and other, more resistant and climate friendly greening is needed...
Show full commentGood ideas, but not only trees, as a one-size solution. The saplings will not survive. We have drinking water in the world for only an estimated 9 years. Other plants and other, more resistant and climate friendly greening is needed. Native shrubs and bushes, grasses, fast growing shade plants, drought resistant methods are needed. A population policy is needed.
As a pretty good rule of thumb, if a solution is one-size, it's wrong size
Show less of commentWhataNuisanceYouAre
Community Member 1 year agoThis drivel is typical of a mayor and administration whose knowledge of both local and global climate and weather trends is clearly based on absolutely shocking ignorance and on listening to scientifically unfounded alarmism, and who prey...
Show full commentThis drivel is typical of a mayor and administration whose knowledge of both local and global climate and weather trends is clearly based on absolutely shocking ignorance and on listening to scientifically unfounded alarmism, and who prey disgracefully on people’s fears including deliberate misrepresentation of research results instead of studying and understanding actual scientific observations. I write as an 86 year old Londoner who remembers and has survived REAL air pollution and who has spent the last 30 years studying the full range of climate-related science.
Show less of commentrjbrooks
Community Member 1 year agoI am interested in history and genealogy and have spotted parish register references to extremes of weather causing poor harvests and flooding and of course the Thames icing over although that was probably because the river was wider and...
Show full commentI am interested in history and genealogy and have spotted parish register references to extremes of weather causing poor harvests and flooding and of course the Thames icing over although that was probably because the river was wider and shallower at the time.
Show less of commentkatierosewindow
Community Member 1 year agoThankyou so much for committing to take action on this issue which is already having devastating impacts around the world
London must do its bit to reduce emissions and pollution that accelerate global warming.
I live in Crystal Palace so I...
Show full commentThankyou so much for committing to take action on this issue which is already having devastating impacts around the world
London must do its bit to reduce emissions and pollution that accelerate global warming.
I live in Crystal Palace so I can see the smog sitting on the city on a daily basis and we all noticed how much clearer it was during Covid
It seems we learned nothing from those times and continue to waste and pollute our beautiful world, jeopardising life on earth
There's so many simple ways that we can all save energy and resources and switch to a more sustainable life - recycling, refilling, cutting down on energy usage, switching to green providers - these solutions are within reach and many people are adapting and doing what they can. However, the leadership from both local and national Government is lacking - massive profits are handed out to fossil fuel companies which will make dinosaurs of us all, developers are given free reign to build on every last bit of green land we have and energy is wasted in so many costly ways -in this city that never sleeps huge tower blocks of lights are left on all night.
For our children and grandchildren and our planet we must do better, we deserve better.
Zeeshm
Community Member 1 year agoIs this policy yet another excuse for the Mayor of London to introduced more taxes on working class people?
Show full commentRather than address climate issues seriously they just seem to make up nonsensical taxes which impact the poorest and most vinerabke...
Is this policy yet another excuse for the Mayor of London to introduced more taxes on working class people?
Rather than address climate issues seriously they just seem to make up nonsensical taxes which impact the poorest and most vinerabke in society.
Show less of commentThe environment is super important and I agree that climate change is a hugely important topic, but as most Londoners know we compromise on this quality and are rewarded by living in one of the culturally, economically artistically and arguably the greatest city in the world.
Adding further taxes won’t fix that problem, and pushing too a nonsensical survey with a small sample pool to justify the public was consulted is the worst form of underhand politics.
Furball
Community Member 1 year agoWhat “policy” are you referring to?
Furball
Community Member 1 year agoLondon should have a law as in New York City, banning all restaurants and shops from leaving front doors wide open while running air conditioning. I am always appalled to pass a business that is doing this. It is a huge waste of energy and...
Show full commentLondon should have a law as in New York City, banning all restaurants and shops from leaving front doors wide open while running air conditioning. I am always appalled to pass a business that is doing this. It is a huge waste of energy and shows blatant disregard for the warming planet. It is an awful irony that warmer temperatures lead to more air conditioning, which in turn contributes to higher temperatures through the use of refrigerants. Can we at least refrain from the recklessness of blowing air con straight out the door?
Show less of commentNinjaProton
Community Member 1 year agoThis is an excellent point and one which an information campaign at the very least would help to keep it in the mind of people who are unaware of how much energy is wasted through the inefficient managing of cooling and refrigeration...
Show full commentThis is an excellent point and one which an information campaign at the very least would help to keep it in the mind of people who are unaware of how much energy is wasted through the inefficient managing of cooling and refrigeration systems. I often notice that in many supermarkets the fridge doors are left open and where a simple sticker on the door reminding people to close (and why) would at least show there is some thought to do something about it.
Show less of commentlivehere
Community Member 1 year agoExcellent idea, should be implement with all possible speed. Shops and restaurants blast out air from air conditioning onto streets, onto residential buildings, onto workplaces - these should all have heat exchangers fitted, and virus...
Show full commentExcellent idea, should be implement with all possible speed. Shops and restaurants blast out air from air conditioning onto streets, onto residential buildings, onto workplaces - these should all have heat exchangers fitted, and virus filters so they don't spread the next pandemic.
Show less of commentDDavey
Community Member 1 year agoNo more hypocrisy, politicians who make the rules and preaching celebrities should be made to use public transport, walk, cycle like the rest of us instead of being driven around. Improve drainage, too many blocked drains in roads which...
Show full commentNo more hypocrisy, politicians who make the rules and preaching celebrities should be made to use public transport, walk, cycle like the rest of us instead of being driven around. Improve drainage, too many blocked drains in roads which are not checked regularly. Improve ventilation on public transport, it gets hot down the tube. Plant more trees, create safe green space instead of new flats as plants take in CO2. Convert empty offices into flats instead. Gardens should be no more than 25% paved, in parts of my borough every one paves over their gardens, hideous!
Show less of commentsuburb1
Community Member 1 year agoVery good points. Even where people need hardstanding, it can be permeable. No public authority should continue to use impermeable, and there could simply be an order against such private behaviour. Politicians and preaching slebs should...
Show full commentVery good points. Even where people need hardstanding, it can be permeable. No public authority should continue to use impermeable, and there could simply be an order against such private behaviour. Politicians and preaching slebs should also be asked to ensure everyone like the Bournemouth Bus Shelter Couple are housed, in hotels, ahead of any incomers, instead of being told by the council to live in the street. (90's, he a wheelchair user, vacated private tenancy when landlord sold up, but were rejected by private landlords with 30 applicants for every vacancy, and rejected by Local Authority for the sin of having lived frugal lives, careful to have life savings for old age, as was normal for the Silent Generation) Why is there no policy, local, national or worldwide, on population increase, or on population density?
Show less of commentrcmorley
Community Member 1 year agoIn California the state is paying residents to remove lawns and plant sustainable planting. We need to break from ‘traditional’ gardens and plan for future sustainable Mediterranean style plants that’s are drought tolerant and can survive...
Show full commentIn California the state is paying residents to remove lawns and plant sustainable planting. We need to break from ‘traditional’ gardens and plan for future sustainable Mediterranean style plants that’s are drought tolerant and can survive in our climate.
Show less of commentsuburb1
Community Member 1 year agoGood idea, best practice anywhere should be copied, though adapted to local difference: London/UK has no surplus cash in the tax-purse to "pay" home owners. An instruction to do the climate-right thing, plus an offer of a loan against the...
Show full commentGood idea, best practice anywhere should be copied, though adapted to local difference: London/UK has no surplus cash in the tax-purse to "pay" home owners. An instruction to do the climate-right thing, plus an offer of a loan against the title deeds, should suffice. When the day comes that nobody has health or social care needs unmet, the surplus money could be provided as 'free gifts' for those who have in recent years earned more than the average worker, (and what is more paid no tax at all on the increased assets) simply by owning house deeds.
By the way it is rather obscene to have no upgrading of council tax, no tax on empty homes or party homes or second homes or homes bought to rot, by overseas residents wanting a place to dump cash.
Rather obscene, too, to have a golden caste of tenancies, subsidised, secure for life, versus private tenancies where official policy is to drive private landlords out of business, with the predictable result that thirty excellent private tenants with perfect credentials must fight for a single private tenancy. This, at a time when millions of undeclared or declared people are unable to even pass the tests to apply for a tenancy, after a lifetime of paying on time, and being perfect tenants in every way: No private landlord, with thirty applicants who are all double income high earners, is going to allow an application from the Bournmouth Bus Shelter Couple, in their 90s, he a wheelchair user. No hotel room or hostel for them, either, no going home to mum, no sofa surfing when they have outlived their contemporaries. And no council place because with no private pension, many in the Silent Generation lived quiet lives of penny pinching, in order to live on savings in their last years, but life savings are punishable, pretty literally, by death from exposure to the elements, after becoming homeless in old age if a landlord sells up.
Ex footballers, Khan, MPs and luvvies virtue signal a lot, at cost to our elderly displaced.
Show less of commentHeidiR17
Community Member 1 year agoFor government:
- Stop all new fossil fuel licenses
- End fossil fuel subsidies, and invest in renewable energy instead
- Nationalise energy and water supply
- Insulate and provide air-pumps for all homes, starting with social housing
- Support for...
Show full commentFor government:
Within London:
- Rewilding of green/blue spaces
- Free public transport (or means-tested free public transport for low earners/people on benefits)
- More measures to enable and encourage cycling, particularly safer streets for cycling and support for people using non-standard cycles
- Divestment from fossil fuels, including changing financial and pension service providers to avoid banks that continue to invest in fossil fuels
- Support for individuals, businesses, and councils to retrofit property (privately owned and public buildings)
- Remove astroturf/hard impermeable surfaces from public areas where grass/permeable surfaces could be used instead
- Schemes to provide access to cool/warm/dry spaces during extreme weather
- Support for people to remove astroturf/impermeable surfaces from gardens (possibly including paying people to keep their gardens permeable and wild, based on the benefits it provides for the wider community). Scheme to help landlords (incl. airbnb) keep gardens of rental properties wild and permeable.
- Support for streets/community organisations which want to transform their properties into a local power station via solar panels
Show less of commentsuburb1
Community Member 1 year agoExcellent points, thank you, though with some reservations:
Nationalising gives ownership to governments and, more to the point, to civil servants, who are proved to be incapable of the equivalent of tying up their own shoelaces. These...
Show full commentExcellent points, thank you, though with some reservations:
Nationalising gives ownership to governments and, more to the point, to civil servants, who are proved to be incapable of the equivalent of tying up their own shoelaces. These public servants got us where we are today. As with NHS, or rail, or anything else, more of the same is a bad plan.
Insulate and air pump Council homes LAST; Council/Social tenants already have the golden lottery ticket of entitlement: Subsidised rent and a secure-for-life home. Out of all tenancies, theirs are the least in need of any extra taxpayer money; they are rolling in advantage, paid for by the private tenants who get absolutely nothing except bearing the brunt of the inexplicable official war-against-private- landlords, plus the competition from the millions and millions of extra millions of people wanting to live in London and all major cities, already fighting for a space in a shed, with no hope of ever, ever, having a secure tenancy of their own.
(Nor even a space in a hotel or hostel, sincer there is no legal obligation to house The Bournemouth Bus Shelter Couple or thousands like them, in their 90's, he a wheelchair user. They not only had no priority, they had no right to any help from the council and of course were not considered by any new private landlord when their old private landlord sold up. )
Air pump is a one-size solution: Ireland has been retrofitting underground heat recovery for decades. Other methods are available too. Heat pump obsession risks starving funds to better alternatives.
Cycling is unsuited to frail walking frame users among millions of others, so the "non-standard" needs to include the excluded and flat-dwellers
"Schemes for" need to be self funding, not by taking from the impoverished, frail, old and vulnerable who can NOT get there.
"Support to" [do the climate-right action] must be a loan against the title deeds, not a gift from tax payers, i.e. often taken from have-nots.
Show less of commentSamanthapalmer27
Community Member 1 year agoWe need to stop Councils from renting out parks for large scale commercial events that destroy the grass, use diesel generators, and pin open large areas for just these events which prevents tree planting. This commercialisation and fencing...
Show full commentWe need to stop Councils from renting out parks for large scale commercial events that destroy the grass, use diesel generators, and pin open large areas for just these events which prevents tree planting. This commercialisation and fencing off also prevents locals from using the parks. Live Nation is a blight on London. See Finsbury Park and Clapham Common amongst many other parks.
Show less of commentsuburb1
Community Member 1 year agoGood points. But councils need money, and not from raising council tax bills. However, they should and must update the basis of valuation for charging council tax, because it is unfair that people in million pound property pay less than...
Show full commentGood points. But councils need money, and not from raising council tax bills. However, they should and must update the basis of valuation for charging council tax, because it is unfair that people in million pound property pay less than those in modest flats, due to flukes in the historic valuations. It would raise income from those best able to pay, not those with the least. They should and must tax second homes and party homes and ban or prohibitively tax overseas ownership, as other countries do.
Show less of commentSutton Jill
Community Member 1 year agoWe need to stop front and back gardens being concreted over, and plant more greenery, trees and drought resistant species.
Sewage should not be emptied into rivers.
We need more surburbanisation and less urbanisation as cities are not good...
Show full commentWe need to stop front and back gardens being concreted over, and plant more greenery, trees and drought resistant species.
Sewage should not be emptied into rivers.
We need more surburbanisation and less urbanisation as cities are not good for the climate. Tower blocks, concrete and steel attract heat, and too many people in one spot reduces the water table, leading to water shortages. We need to go back to natural building materials which are better at dealing with extremes of heat and cold.
Air conditioning will not lead to net zero - we need other ways to cool down.
We need more government grants for solar panels, heat pumps and the like.
Show less of commentVeronicacham
Community Member 1 year agoRestrict the use of private cars in London and devote more space to cycle lanes. Learn from Paris's 15-minute neighbourhoods to ensure that people can buy what they need, and access services, within 15 minutes' walk. This would also reduce...
Show full commentRestrict the use of private cars in London and devote more space to cycle lanes. Learn from Paris's 15-minute neighbourhoods to ensure that people can buy what they need, and access services, within 15 minutes' walk. This would also reduce the number of delivery vans buzzing around. Ensure that local deliveries are made sustainably using cargo bikes rather than vans. Burning fossil fuel is a major contributor to global heating and even electric cars have to have their electricity generated - currently only half from renewables; the carbon footprint of manufacturing a car is high so this also contributes to global heating. Any air-conditioned car sends heat out to the city, so the person inside is comfortable, but people walking and cycling in the street are not. This can't be right. Air conditioning carries its own carbon footprint - learn from people in hotter countries who have designed their buildings and public spaces to minimise heat. Plant more trees and turn grey space into green. Make it safe, convenient and pleasant to cycle everywhere for all ages and abilities. Learn from other European countries, who are way ahead of us on this.
Show less of commentFrustrated
Community Member 1 year ago15 minute neighbourhoods are unrealistic, think about all the deliveries that are needed to maintain services that are only 15 mins away from similar services in The adjacent neighbourhood.
Show full comment15 minute neighbourhoods are unrealistic, think about all the deliveries that are needed to maintain services that are only 15 mins away from similar services in The adjacent neighbourhood.
Show less of commentsuburb1
Community Member 1 year agoGood points. Always look for best examples overseas.
But the one-size answer of using a bike or a bus overlooks millions who for instance use a walking frame, so cannot use a bike, or even get to a bus stop.
Show full commentGood points. Always look for best examples overseas.
But the one-size answer of using a bike or a bus overlooks millions who for instance use a walking frame, so cannot use a bike, or even get to a bus stop.
Show less of commentkarentma
Community Member 1 year agoIf we are to be able to cope with extreme weather (and also do more to reduce futher impacts) central and local government bodies need to look at relaxing the tight rules imposed in 'Conservation' areas, where no external changes to the...
Show full commentIf we are to be able to cope with extreme weather (and also do more to reduce futher impacts) central and local government bodies need to look at relaxing the tight rules imposed in 'Conservation' areas, where no external changes to the original look of the buildings or materials used are permitted. This makes the installation of (e.g.) double glazing prohibitively expensive and the installation of solar panels or more effective cooling impossible.
suburb1
Community Member 1 year agoGood point. Overzealous and irrational worship of the past will remove our future. There are ways of modifying within reason. It would be interesting if the royal family, or one of the controllers of any of the thousands of historic London...
Show full commentGood point. Overzealous and irrational worship of the past will remove our future. There are ways of modifying within reason. It would be interesting if the royal family, or one of the controllers of any of the thousands of historic London buildings, choose to climate- adapt one of their own buildings, using it as an example of what can be done sensitively and without too much cost. No doubt RIBA or the Design Centre has some examples and ideas.
Wallpaper/linings can be insulated. A temporary winter ceiling could rest at picture rail height, to save heat, then be taken down in summer, to cool the room. Solar has advanced to the point it can be just a film over a window. Secondary glazing should never be banned nor need it be obtrusive. Roof tiles can be solar panels. Underground heat recovery and individual carefully positioned air and wind recovery will become steadily cheaper the more they are encouraged by planners.
Show less of commentAnna2007
Community Member 1 year agoYou should by law have adequate drainage systems that would conserve water and businesses should do their utmost to encourage people not to travel during the hottest part of the day and rather then advising people to carry heavy bottles of...
Show full commentYou should by law have adequate drainage systems that would conserve water and businesses should do their utmost to encourage people not to travel during the hottest part of the day and rather then advising people to carry heavy bottles of water, water stations could be provided by businesses.
Show less of commentsuburb1
Community Member 1 year agoGood point about water. We and the world have no reserves, yet keep increasing the population, keep allowing watering of grass, keep allowing provision of water to people with no water meters, and keep refusing to set a ration per person...
Show full commentGood point about water. We and the world have no reserves, yet keep increasing the population, keep allowing watering of grass, keep allowing provision of water to people with no water meters, and keep refusing to set a ration per person for essential scarce resources, starting with water, so anything over the limit can be charged at increasingly prohibitive surcharge, to reduce incentive to waste. That, however, would need an order that water companies must by law turn off the supply at the point customers go over the limit. In times of drought, that could be just enough ration for drinking water and a couple of bowls of water for cooking and washing.
Show less of commentAnna2007
Community Member 1 year agoI think that there should be a legal maximum working temperature for people working indoors and outdoors. You should also have properly air conditioned buses, trains and tubes and no-one should be obliged to travel during the hottest part...
Show full commentI think that there should be a legal maximum working temperature for people working indoors and outdoors. You should also have properly air conditioned buses, trains and tubes and no-one should be obliged to travel during the hottest part of the day and places such as cafes and restaurants should be obliged by law to have adequate air conditioning and heating and there should be places with air conditioning where vulnerable people and people with long term health conditions that are affected by temperature can sit and relax and do their work without feeling the need to buy and spend money on coffees etc. Vulnerable people should be given extra help with installing air conditioning.
Show less of commentsuburb1
Community Member 1 year agoThat is one half of a good idea, though "vulnerable people" are extremely unlikely to be able to travel to a designated space, and in any case, being vulnerable, need to shelter from the diseases other people will carry. Work spaces to...
Show full commentThat is one half of a good idea, though "vulnerable people" are extremely unlikely to be able to travel to a designated space, and in any case, being vulnerable, need to shelter from the diseases other people will carry. Work spaces to rent by the hour are already available, and need not be provided with 'free' money from the taxpayers. Air conditioning uses power, adding to climate change and raising bills. It should not be needed. Climate change needs to be an element of design, NOW, not one day in the future when all the developers suddenly agree they are willing to allow the governments and planning authorities to change the planning laws.
Show less of commentrjbrooks
Community Member 1 year agoI have always thought that some of these old stone built churches would be ideal places to cool down in hot weather. Otherwise, places like Chislehurst Caves used in WW2 for safety, or something similar. I believe there are some disused...
Show full commentI have always thought that some of these old stone built churches would be ideal places to cool down in hot weather. Otherwise, places like Chislehurst Caves used in WW2 for safety, or something similar. I believe there are some disused underground areas in central London which would be cooler.
Show less of commentldwgf
Community Member 1 year agoall new developments must use all mitigations there are and also must pay to implement mitigations locally. These glass and steel builds contribute to adverse impacts so need to be stopped. New developments must take Nature based as...
Show full commentall new developments must use all mitigations there are and also must pay to implement mitigations locally. These glass and steel builds contribute to adverse impacts so need to be stopped. New developments must take Nature based as integral parts of their development. No more paving as around the Elephant & Castle delopment instead natural planting with minimal paving using Permeable paving exclusively. a area around the developments must be re done with permeable paving at the developers cost
Show less of commentsuburb1
Community Member 1 year agoYes, adding that trees are not the only option, and a few never -watered saplings would be best substituted with native tough shrubs and whatever will grow as weeds and grass. Grass must never be watered, by law. Fake grass must be removed...
Show full commentYes, adding that trees are not the only option, and a few never -watered saplings would be best substituted with native tough shrubs and whatever will grow as weeds and grass. Grass must never be watered, by law. Fake grass must be removed, by law. Underground heat recovery and through draught by natural means, not air conditioning, must be standard. Insulation must be for heat and for cold. But there must be a world and a national and a local Overpopulation Policy too. The world has about 9 years worth of water left, yet the populations are rising, and moving, and moving to London. It defies logic to pretend everyone can be given a council tenancy as fast as they turn up and ask.
Show less of commentLynnski
Community Member 1 year agoPlastic grass - ban it!
ldwgf
Community Member 1 year agoplus outlaw producers of plastic grass all companies selling it must be hevily fined
nmayo
Community Member 1 year agoMake use of nature-based solutions. Eg increase the amount of soft natural surface; create natural ponds and other blue surface (eg daylighting underground rivers); impose a moratorium on tree felling; dramatically increase hedge planting...
Show full commentMake use of nature-based solutions. Eg increase the amount of soft natural surface; create natural ponds and other blue surface (eg daylighting underground rivers); impose a moratorium on tree felling; dramatically increase hedge planting; stop the construction of tall buildings; ban the conversion of gardens to hard surface; don't add to the urban heat island effect by consenting residential air conditioning plant.
Show less of commentsuburb1
Community Member 1 year agoAll good ideas, but all parties have agreed to throw towns 'under the bus' by turning them into living-hell, uninhabitable, terrifying, skyscraper jungles, and with no suggestion of any alteration to planning laws.This is because nobody...
Show full commentAll good ideas, but all parties have agreed to throw towns 'under the bus' by turning them into living-hell, uninhabitable, terrifying, skyscraper jungles, and with no suggestion of any alteration to planning laws.This is because nobody is willing to mention overpopulation, and nobody in power will accept that it is impossible for London to build a new council house for everyone in the world, faster than they can all arrive. Each MP knows his own constituents dislike having the results of overpopulation on their own doorstep, so the tacit all-party agreement is to stack as many millions as possible, higher and higher, in town centres, while MPs themselves (and ex footballers, and bishops,) take their chauffeured cars and second homes and private health insurance, and live somewhere pleasantly uncrowded.
Show less of commentcatandmouse
Community Member 1 year agoI really don't know