The Green Londoner

🎉 Wrapping up 2024 with gratitude and excitement for what’s ahead 🌿 As 2024 comes to a close, I’m reflecting on the incredible progress The Green Londoner has made this year. Our mission has always been to inspire and empower sustainable living and climate action in London—breaking down silos to show that sustainability belongs in every conversation, from policies and science to art, food, education, and even holidays. 🌱 This year’s milestones Since launching in April, we’ve:  - Written over 45 articles exploring London’s sustainability challenges and opportunities.  - Covered dozens of events, conferences, and fairs, amplifying diverse voices.  - Built a cohesive media presence with a new website, engaging social platforms, and beautiful branding—thanks to Saranporn (Sara) Sornpaisarn’s foundational work and Louis de Rul’s creative inspiration.  - Partnered with local charities, grassroots organisations, councils, startups, and academic institutions to create meaningful impact.  - Organised workshops, delivered pitches, promoted green businesses, and shared inspiring stories from London’s vibrant communities. 💡 What’s next in 2025?  We’re just getting started. Next year, we’re excited to:  - Launch our newsletter, delivering fresh perspectives on green living and climate action.  - Deepen our coverage of London’s climate adaptation and resilience efforts.  - Explore the city’s low-carbon food scene, sustainable transport, and council-level green initiatives.  - Expand our *Green Living* workshops and monthly green activities calendar.  - Dive into new formats—videos, carousels, and infographics—and amplify voices through interviews with Londoners.  - Strengthen partnerships with businesses, academics, and communities to make climate action relatable and accessible to all. 🤝 Thank you for your support  None of this would have been possible without our incredible partners, interns, mentors, contributors, audience, friends, and family. From collaborations with Nourish Hub, UKHarvest, The GSFR | Global Salmon Farming Resistance, and The Onion Garden to support from councils like Hammersmith & Fulham Council, academic leaders at Imperial College London, and incubators like Startup Discovery School —your trust and enthusiasm have shaped our journey. 🌍 Join us in 2025  Let’s keep driving positive change together. Subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn, and share your ideas on how we can make climate action more accessible. Wishing you a joyful, festive, and green holiday season! 💚 Sara Valenzuela Cruz Panwad Aroonpirodjanakul Denait P. Greta Anderson Richard Anderson Jérémie Souteyrat Hamish R. Phoebe Ross Hope Carpenter Caroline Vienot Jiaqi Zhang Katia Hérault Emilien Gasc Jean-Philippe Verdier Theo Ruby Adrian Mizzi #TheGreenLondoner #Sustainability #ClimateAction #London #GreenLiving 

Are we prepared for severe heatwaves in London? Do you agree that rainy, wintry days are far better than heatwaves? If your answers are no and yes, check out my latest article for The Green Londoner. I dive into the findings of a new report from Shade the UK, Love Design Studio, and Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change & the Environment on the creation of an Overheating Index for buildings. The report, now open for public consultation, was presented during a webinar this week featuring Andy Love, Dr Candice Howarth, Anna Beswick, Shreya Kapur, and Tony Truepenny-Phillipson. https://lnkd.in/eT-bxN9T 👉 Read the full article below Islington Council Islington Climate Centre #HeatResilience #Islington #SustainableBuildings #HeatRisk #TheGreenLondoner #Heatwave #OverheatingIndex #BuiltEnvironment

The Green Londoner has officially joined the Hammersmith & Fulham Council Climate Alliance! This initiative, led by Hammersmith & Fulham Council, brings together local businesses and organisations committed to driving sustainability and tackling the climate emergency in H&F borough. As part of the alliance, my goal is to contribute meaningfully by: - Amplifying the borough’s green initiatives and success stories while advocating for more ambitious action where possible. - Providing actionable advice for residents to adopt more sustainable lifestyles. - Highlighting the voices of local green champions who inspire change. The Green Londoner is built on values of collaboration, inclusivity, and action, aiming to make green living accessible and exciting for everyone. Joining the H&F Climate Alliance is another step toward creating a healthier, greener, and more resilient London. Special thanks to the H&F Climate Team (Hinesh Mehta, Charlotte Akers, Hope Carpenter) and Business Unit (Mathilde Griffin) for their support, as well as Leonard Bacica, Sharon Willems, the team at Barons Court Theatre and The Curtains Up for hosting such an informative meeting. Want to learn more? Check out the article on our website below and find out how you can get involved in making H&F a greener place! #TheGreenLondoner #HFClimateAlliance #Sustainability #London #ClimateAction

🌱 Green activities in London this December 🎄 Looking to make your holiday season more sustainable and meaningful? The Green Londoner is your go- to guide! This month’s highlights include: ✅ The first-ever Vegan Fayre in London ✅ A post-COP29 conference with top panelists ✅ Hands-on workshops co-organised by us ✅ Ideas for sustainable shopping and volunteering Whether you’re exploring eco-friendly events or finding ways to give back, December is full of opportunities to celebrate a greener festive season in London. ✨ Read our curated guide here: see link below! 🌟 Let us know if you're enjoying this series and share your favorite green activities in the comments! Elisabeth Souquet Anastasia Samoylova Todd Sinclair Ⓥ🏳️🌈Emilien Gasc Climate Fresk UK Thames21 Greenwich Market WAX Atelier The Royal Parks #Sustainability #GreenLondon #EcoFriendlyLiving #GreenLiving #FestiveSeason #TheGreenLondoner

🌟 Two exciting new green living workshops in London! 🌿 If The Green Londoner is about spotlighting green initiatives, policies, and community actions while sharing tips for sustainable living, it’s also about celebrating creative and green activities. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce our new partnership with WAX Atelier and Lola Lely to deliver two magical workshops on the 14th of December at The Onion Garden—a hidden gem in Victoria, London, where I recently installed a beehive! 🐝 These workshops blend fragrance, light, and decoration using natural ingredients and beeswax, creating the perfect opportunity to dive into sustainable crafts, learn new skills, and connect with like-minded people. 🎨 Workshops include: Botanical incense making (morning): Create your own incense from natural botanicals and beeswax. Festive floral pillar candles (afternoon): Craft stunning candles for your holiday table or as thoughtful gifts. ✨ Why attend? Immerse yourself in sustainable, hands-on creativity. Support small, eco-conscious businesses. Take home beautiful, handmade creations. 📍 When & where? 🗓️ 14th December 🌱 The Onion Garden, a cozy, green haven created by Jens Jakobsen featuring a luxurious urban garden, an orangery full of decorations, and a delightful café. Can’t make it? No worries! Drop by The Onion Garden Café to explore the space, enjoy a drink, say hello (I’ll be there too!), and shop Wax Atelier’s stunning handmade candles—perfect for gifts or to light up your holiday celebrations. 🎁✨ #Workshops #SustainableCrafts #CandleMaking #GreenLiving #TheGreenLondoner #WaxAtelier #CreativeWorkshops #CandleMaking

🌍 Thank you to Imperial Policy Forum for hosting yesterday’s panel at Imperial College London on climate adaptation and resilience finance in London and the UK. The discussion featured Raffaele Della Croce’s findings from his new report (read it here : https://lnkd.in/eRsRD664) and insights from expert panellists—Emma Howard Boyd CBE, Alexandre Chavarot, Julia Prescot CBE, Amal-Lee Amin, and moderator Lara Williams. 🛠️ Adaptation and resilience must be top priorities for local authorities and policymakers. However, progress is often hindered by funding constraints. The panel discussion and report recommendations focused on bridging this gap by encouraging the mobilisation of private finance for climate adaptation projects across cities and infrastructure. ⚠️ With increasing climate hazards, there is an urgent need to strengthen protections for Londoners, businesses, and communities. 📖 Key insights from the panel and my thoughts are available in my post for The Green Londoner, linked below. For regular updates on London’s policies, green living, and climate adaptation, follow The Green Londoner. Michael Wilkins Imperial College Business School Grantham Institute - Climate Change and the Environment Singapore Green Finance Centre Centre for Climate Finance & Investment #ClimateAdaptation #Resilience #GreenFinance #London #Sustainability #TheGreenLondoner

Thank you, Deniz Huseyin and Landor LINKS Ltd, for organising such a rich and insightful event with practitioners who truly work, live, and breathe adaptation and resilience every day. I’m grateful for the opportunity to attend and report on behalf of The Green Londoner. You can find my short article in the comments below. Steven Forrest Bethany Haskins-Vaheesan (She/Her) John Lamb Rachel Toresen-Owuor, MEI Greg Deeprose Christopher Martin 🌍 Holly Smith Eleanor Jane Broad Stephen Elderkin Habib Khan Andrew Potter Rachel Wileman Tim Munday #Adaptation #ResilientStreets #ResilientLondon #LondonClimateResilientReview #TheGreenLondoner #UrbanDesign

Last night, The Green Londoner attended RAW, a thought-provoking play by Monica Maffia, translated by Sophie Stevens and directed by Luke Ofield, as part of the Solo Play Festival—a global event across five countries (Kosovo, New Zealand, UK, Ukraine, and the USA). The play is performed in the intimate basement of Barons Court Theatre, just a two-minute walk from Barons Court station. It’s a unique spot where you can grab a drink or dinner upstairs before the show, with a ringing bell marking the start. RAW, superbly performed by local actor Alexander HJ Smith, explores our struggles within a system that resists real change, despite the environment becoming increasingly dangerous for humanity. At The Green Londoner, we believe that art—especially theatre—can be a powerful force for climate action. Theatre engages people emotionally in ways that few policies or reports can. Hammersmith, home to four well-known theatres (LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art), Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, Bush Theatre, and Barons Court Theatre), all part of the H&F Climate Alliance, could become a leading borough for green theatre. It was great to hear from Monica Maffia and translator Sophie Stevens during the Q&A session, led by Barons Court Theatre artistic director Sharon Willems and organised by executive director Leonard Bacica, about the challenges of translating such a powerful play from Spanish to English. Today is the last chance to see RAW, alongside the second part of this double bill, Complete Sex, a thought-provoking piece on gender and identity performed by Jo Sutherland and directed by Sharon Willems. Hope Carpenter #TheatreForChange #EcoTheatre #ClimateAction #SustainableArts #EnvironmentalTheatre #ClimateAwareness #TheGreenLondoner #GreenTheatre #SoloPlayFestival #LondonTheatre #Hammersmith #BaronsCourtTheatre

Yesterday was a disappointing day for all of us working towards climate and nature goals, knowing we have no choice and very little time to act. Sadly, public debate is becoming increasingly polarised, with facts often replaced by ideology. In this article for The Green Londoner, inspired by the ideas of French philosopher Bruno Latour, I explore Trump’s victory, the climate parallels with Kemi Badenoch as the new Conservative Party leader, and the reassuring words from the Mayor of London. We’re now fully engaged in a cultural battle of words, positions, and ideologies, shifting the focus from left vs. right or conservative vs. progressive, to simply pro or anti Net Zero, growth vs. degrowth. But should we let ourselves be boxed into labels that the Trumpian right wants to impose? You’ll find a simplified comparison of Trump and Badenoch’s positions—a striking resemblance and a shared ideological framework. Read more here ⬇️ Mete Coban MBE Rt Hon Chris Skidmore DeSmog The ENDS Report The Guardian Le Monde Audrey Garric Grantham Institute - Climate Change and the Environment Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change & the Environment

Short video from yesterday's Clean Water March in central London. Simple demands: Our water! What do we want? Clean water. When do we want it? Now. One request: that those who can take responsibility, do take responsibility. Mete Coban MBE Surfers Against Sewage CPRE London, the countryside charity Friends of the Earth Swimmable Cities River Action UK #MarchForCleanWater #TheGreenLondoner