LONDON: London is underprepared for the heatwaves, flooding and rising sea ranges it’s forecast to expertise in coming years, a report commissioned by Mayor Sadiq Khan mentioned on Wednesday (Jan 17).
The report, which was ordered after hovering temperatures, wildfires and floods all hit the capital in recent times, mentioned a “step change” in planning and funding was wanted.
“London has many good plans and programmes to arrange for local weather hazards however we have to recognise that Londoners now face deadly dangers,” the chair of the report, and former chair of the Setting Company, Emma Howard Boyd mentioned in assertion.
Boyd mentioned that whereas there had been a powerful deal with lowering emissions, Britain additionally wanted to arrange and adapt its important nationwide infrastructure.
“Issues that we have to take care of sooner or later have out of the blue develop into very, very actual,” Boyd informed Reuters.
In summer time 2022, Britain recorded its hottest day ever throughout a heatwave that fuelled fires throughout London’s outer areas, shut down key transport companies, and led to the nation declaring a nationwide emergency.
The report mentioned local weather change introduced a menace to life among the many most susceptible communities in London, such because the aged, youngsters, low-income households, marginalised communities and susceptible well being teams.
The report’s suggestions included strengthening flood defences alongside the River Thames and bettering housing requirements.
Khan mentioned he would later this yr comply with the report’s recommendation to undertake a multi-agency train to check the capital’s preparedness for extreme warmth.
“A metropolis is simply nearly as good as its weakest hyperlink,” Boyd mentioned.
