Climate solutions charity Ashden is delighted that the London Climate Resilience Review has been published (Wed 17 July), with recommendations on ways London can prepare for extreme weather conditions, including deadly heat and flooding.

This groundbreaking independent report, commissioned by the Mayor of London, says we need to do much more to prevent and prepare for heatwaves, flooding, storms, droughts, wildfire and other climate risks, and also says we must continue to do everything we can to cut harmful emissions so that these risks don’t outpace our ability to adapt, putting forward 50 recommendations.

Dr Ashok Sinha, CEO of Ashden, a UK charity which brings organisations and local authorities together to share climate solutions and input evidence into the review, states that “making London resilient to the constant shocks of unpredictable and often extreme weather is a vital planning exercise that cannot be ignored. This review is essential, timely, and must be acted upon.”

Ashden’s evidence to Emma Howard-Boyd, author of the London Climate Resilience Review, took the form of examples of a number of best practice solutions to climate adaptation and policy recommendations, from within London and drawing from evidence from businesses and local authorities around the UK.

Dr Sinha, who is also Chair of the London Sustainable Development Commission, continued: “Londoners, like everyone in the UK, are exposed to very serious risk as a consequence of global heating. Those living in the most densely occupied, least green or blue spaces are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat and increased flood risk and are usually also some of the most disadvantaged Londoners.

“But there are a whole host of best practice solutions to climate adaptation in operation now that we can learn from and scale up, to make sure that we can reduce the impacts of severe weather, or when these climate knocks happen, will help communities to deal with them or avoid them.”

Suggestions range from using ‘near free’ ground source cooling for homes at risk of excess heat, to creating new wetlands and green spaces in urban areas that prevent flooding, protect nature, and tranquil green spaces and crucially – jobs – in the city (see examples below).

Ashden suggest a raft of policy changes which would help support climate adaptation, including a requirement for rain gardens/wetlands/ponds to be created in areas of high surface water flood risk, for councils to have to set targets for protecting biodiversity and nature, and for government to provide a bank of ecology experts for local authorities to refer to, as well as convening public and private experts in green finance to explore potential use of Local Climate Bonds for adaptation projects.

With reference to cooling, Ashden propose that councils insist that new build homes, offices and schools incorporate passive cooling and/or natural ventilation into design, and to encourage the uptake of smart thermostats by landlords to monitor tenants during periods of excess heat. Boreholes for ground source heating can also be used ‘in reverse’ to cool homes and offices (see Kensa Heat Pumps example below).

“Resourcing of sustained community engagement over multiple years will be essential,” says Dr Sinha, “and linking to green skills and job opportunities throughout.”

Ashden has already created an Adaptation Network for council officers, bringing local authorities together to work on climate adaptation in a unified way. It also suggests setting up London-wide data mapping of climate risks, deprivation and vulnerability.

Four examples of climate resilience around the UK that could be replicated in London and elsewhere:

Thames 21/Enfield Council in North London are protecting communities from extreme weather by bringing new life to neglected waterways
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Enfield in North London is home to Salmon Brook, Pymmes Brook and Turkey Brook – three waterways feeding the River Thames. They currently transfer flood water to the southeast of the borough where homes are flooded in ‘extreme’ events. Works to narrow the channel and increase filtration into the ground in the rural headwaters is reducing this risk, as well as restoration of rivers in parks in the local areas helping to store flood waters in the urban areas.

In response, Enfield Council and Thames21 (winner of the 2023 Ashden Award for natural climate solutions) have helped communities to restore these waterways and create natural features that will lower the risk of flooding using newly created wetlands, rain gardens, and new woodlands. Local volunteers power these projects and are trained to become citizen scientists, champions and advocates for Enfield’s rivers.

The mental and physical health benefits to residents are a huge extra element of the project, as well as upskilling and job creation in nature-based green skills.

Thames21, along with other environmental NGOs and relevant agencies, input into the London Climate Resilience Plan.

“Thames21 is one of London’s leading environmental charities, tackling the climate and biodiversity crisis by restoring rivers across London and the Thames Basin. The Enfield Chase Woodland Restoration Project has been a great success. Through a collaborative effort with residents, we have restored rivers and created new ponds, woods and wetlands to build climate resilience in north London”, said Chris Coode, CEO at Thames21.

“We know that healthy rivers are key to mitigating the most acute effects of climate change, including flood and water scarcity, restoring biodiversity and creating beautiful blue-green spaces for people and wildlife. Overall, we want to rebuild the bond between communities and their rivers. Together we can deliver powerful social impacts like improved wellbeing, community cohesion, and greater equality of access to good quality green-blue spaces for people to enjoy.”