Boroughs join forces for plan to make London resilient to climate change

30 June 2022

Southwark Council has launched a new action plan, which sets out how boroughs will work collaboratively to make London resilient to the effects of the changing climate on the capital, as part of a London climate programme initiative.

Climate change is already occurring, and even with action to reduce carbon emissions, we expect to see significant changes in London’s climate in the future. This plan addresses how, alongside working together to reach Net Zero targets, London will also combat climate impacts such as overheating and flooding whilst also enhancing biodiversity and the natural environment.

The actions are set to take place over the next eight years, and include measures such as:

• Developing a London-wide drought management plan
• Greening the Thames riverside
• Supporting the creation of ‘Cool Spaces’ throughout the capital to help Londoners cope with heatwaves
• Developing nature-based cool corridors which will increase tree-cover across the city and tackle the ‘urban heat island effect’.

This plan joins the other six London Climate Project Action Plans, which were published in March 2022, and establish how boroughs will work collaboratively to reach Net Zero targets across the capital. The plans have been drawn from the ambitious Joint Statement on Climate Change which was agreed by London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee and London Environment Directors' Network. The statement committed London boroughs to delivering major programmes, which address key climate change issues.

The launch of the resilient and green plan coincides with London Climate Action Week (LCAW), one of the world’s largest climate change events, in keeping with one of this year’s primary themes, which seeks to address how London can support Green, Fair and Resilient Climate Transitions. As part of LCAW, London Councils is hosting its Climate Programmes Showcase on this and its six other London climate plans. The event will take place online at 10.30am on 1 July 2022.

Speaking about the action plan Cllr Dennis, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency and Sustainable Development at Southwark Council, said, “Whilst we are working hard across the council to achieve our ambition of being Net Zero by 2030, we need to recognise that there are already irreversible impacts of climate change which will have an impact on Southwark and London.

That is why it’s so important to start working right away with our neighbouring boroughs to protect our city and its residents, to help ensure that London can continue to thrive as a resilient and green city.’

Mayor Philip Glanville, London Councils’ Climate Change, Transport and Environment Lead, said: “London boroughs are leading the charge to tackle the climate emergency and embed Net Zero solutions across the capital. These new action plans, including Southwark’s, are the culmination of the boroughs' climate leadership over the last two years and are starting to win national awards.

They show the commitment of boroughs to collaborate on initiatives that work for every resident across London’s diverse communities and have a long-lasting impact."

Page last updated: 30 June 2022