Fleet Street Quarter’s Post

Last week we welcomed Mete Coban MBE, the Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy and potential partners to Hounslow to showcase our ambitious plans to decarbonise the borough and make it more resilient to the impact of climate change.   Hounslow Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and made a commitment to achieve net zero for the council, reduce wider borough emissions, and ensure we are resilient to the impacts of climate change. As part of this commitment, we have worked alongside 3Ci (Cities Commission for Climate Investment) to develop the innovative Net Zero Neighbourhood programme.    See our highlights of the day in this video.   Visit our website for more details around our plans to tackle the climate crisis: https://lnkd.in/eewgD4Jm #hounslow #london #climate #climateemergency #climatecrisis #netzero #environment Katherine Dunne

“We need to terrify people (and our politicians) a bit more.” This stark message from Dame Julia King, Chair of the Climate Change Committee's Adaptation Sub-Committee, wasn’t meant for Halloween but as a wake-up call at this week’s Net Zero Festival. With extreme weather events intensifying—from flash floods across Europe and the UK to early heatwaves in Australia—the urgency for climate adaptation has never been clearer. The latest UNEP report warns of a possible 3.1°C rise in global temperatures by the century’s end if emissions aren’t drastically reduced, far above the Paris Agreement targets. This would mean dramatic impacts globally, making adaptation essential, not optional. In London, the Climate Resilience Review led by Emma Howard Boyd, and supported by Mayor Sadiq Khan, offers actionable steps for protecting our city. Given the breadth of London’s vulnerabilities, the real question is how swiftly and effectively its government, businesses, and communities will move to implement these changes. In my latest article for The Green Londoner, I delve into the review’s findings, the mayor’s response, and how we can transform awareness into real action. Baroness Brown Julia King DBE FREng FRS and Emma Howard Boyd CBE, how do we shape a narrative that “terrifies” people into action—one that’s even more powerful than the harsh realities we face every day? What does climate adaptation mean to you? Are you prepared to take part, and what would you expect from our leaders? Some resources, including the full review, are at the end of the article. Mete Coban MBE George Leigh Johanna Sutton Bob Ward London Climate Ready Partnership Ashok Sinha Kathy Baughman McLeod London Councils Mayor of London Catherine Barber Pete Daw 🌍 Holly Smith London Sustainable Development Commission  C40 Cities Climate Resilience for All #LondonClimateResilienceReview #NetZeroFestival #FlashFlooding #ClimateAdaptation

It’s Friday, and UNEP has just warned in its latest Emissions Gap Report 2024 that, unless countries act now, we’re likely headed toward a 3.1°C temperature increase by the end of the century, with all the devastating impacts that would bring. For Londoners, understanding these risks and knowing how we can adapt at the most “affordable cost” to the community is crucial. How can we make that happen? Check out my recent article on the London Climate Resilience Review, Mayor Sadiq Khan’s response, and the climate risks London faces. P.S. 🌍 If reality doesn’t seem scary enough, what would it take to raise awareness about climate risks in London? A flooded Piccadilly Circus 🌊? No more coffee or ice cream around the corner? 45°C days in Hyde Park? Share your thoughts below! What message or imagery would really terrify people into taking action? #LondonClimateResilienceReview #TheGreenLondoner #ClimateRisks #ClimateAdaptation

Earlier this month we attended the Building Lasting Conference by the CAGBC | Canada Green Building Council, where we learned the latest issues, resources and methods of building green. Did you know that Canada's net-zero carbon emissions goal also includes the building sector? If you'd like to read how building green works and climate change affects land development, head to our blog! https://lnkd.in/e73pUXH8

☀️⛈️ How can our built environment cope with increasing flood and heatwave events? My friend and colleague Clare Wildfire FCIBSE FIMA FRSA, has some thoughts... Clare, our global cities lead, highlights the four key principals that our highly experienced city practitioners put at the heart of our work to ensure climate resilience is embedded throughout projects and cities: 👑 Powers: leadership to set standards and incentivise joined-up action 🤝 Partnerships: a common goal of long-term resilience among stakeholders 📊 Platforms: using data to enable better decision-making, effective use of assets and improved predictions of cause and effect 👨👧👦 People: promoting trust and cooperation with stakeholders and citizens Our expert team of city practitioners have been working collaboratively to understand the changes our clients are facing, and have been embedding resilient solutions that will allow people and places to thrive amongst our complex and dynamic cities. Read more about how we can adapt our built environment to increase our protection and our services across city systems 👇 

On Thursday, the Mayor of London will meet Pope Francis at the ‘Climate Crisis to Climate Resilience’ summit at the Vatican. The summit's main topics will be lowering climate risks, developing adaptation plans, and changing attitudes towards #climatechange. https://lnkd.in/eyx5eGh4 Last summer, #heatwaves with names like #Cerberus and #Charon caused death and disruption across Europe. In June 2023, the Mayor took a leading step in commissioning the #LondonClimateResilienceReview to look at these issues and asked me to review how well people, organisations and infrastructure are preparing for #floods, #storms, #droughts, #wildfires, and #sealevelrise. We specifically looked at London, but a lot of what we've found is important to limit disruption to the billions of people who live in cities (and rural areas too) around the world. You can read our interim report here: https://lnkd.in/e9ih3Gzi I can’t wait to publish our final report very soon! George Leigh Johanna Sutton London Climate Change Partnership (LCCP) London Sustainable Development Commission London Climate Action Week C40 Cities Climate Resilience for All #climateadaptation #climateresilience #climateemergency #urbanresilience

The recently published independent ‘London Climate Resilience Review’ highlights the city's extreme vulnerability to climate change from now until 2050. The review has announced a series of recommendations and actions to guide London through the transition to more extreme weather. Key points include: - Climate risks could knock 2-3% off London’s GDP each year by the 2050s - In July 2022, when London hit 40°C, there was a 50% increase in water consumption, while reservoirs were at their lowest for 30 years - Around two-fifths of properties across Greater London are likely to be affected by climate change this decade - More nature-based solutions and man-made infrastructure will be needed to improve London’s climate resilience across the next few years - Wildfires are a growing threat at London’s rural-urban interface - The UN says the world is on track for a 2.5–2.9°C temperature rise above pre-industrial levels this century The review calls for urgent action on six key areas including a London-wide action plan on heat risk and major flooding. Today's findings remind us there’s no greater time to take action against climate change in London! Join us at Sustainabuild London on Thursday 19th September at Heatherwick studio, bringing together our growing community of sustainability-minded professionals to collaborate and network for a low-carbon future for the City. Find out more at: https://lnkd.in/ezkBc_vq

➡️ Latest news - Fareham Borough Council publishes updated Climate Change Action Plan Fareham Borough Council is pleased to present the third annual update of its Climate Change Action Plan. The Climate Change Action Plan was first published in June 2021. It focuses predominantly on reducing the Council’s operational carbon footprint. This is in support of the Council’s commitment to becoming carbon neutral across all its buildings and services by 2030. The projects outlined in the plan have enabled the Council to reduce its emissions by nearly a quarter since 2019/20. However, there are a number of challenges to achieving its ambitious carbon neutral commitment and this update highlights how these will be tackled over the coming year and beyond. The update also explains the initiatives the Council is undertaking to help its residents and businesses across the Borough to reduce their carbon emissions, and to help the Borough respond to the specific challenges brought about by Climate Change. Find a link to more information in the comments 👇 #climatechange #climatechangeaction #carbonneutral

In our most recent insight article, Jason Prince, Director at the Urban Transport Group highlights the work it's member regions are doing to help battle the climate crisis. "Whether it's images of water cascading down the steps of underground stations, asphalt road surfaces melting or railway lines buckling, we are increasingly being served visual reminders that the effects of climate change are already impacting our transport systems." Read our latest insight article here https://bit.ly/3wWrqAa

TLDR 1) Stop cutting down trees 2) Plant and care for and protect more trees, etc, asap —- re air conditioning of existing buildings I would urge instead we consider ‘hybrid’ solutions, eg adding ‘reversible’ ASHPs to just one (common-access) zone* in a building, not retrofit of full a/c for whole building. This could improve winter heat affordability (and lower carbon) for that popular-use zone too. *The wise choice of this zone (to be given ‘special treatment’) would be crucial. It might be a lounge, a cafeteria, a study/library. Essentially a common use space in a building where those most dangerously affected by the heat could come gather to recover. In times of universal heat, cooling just one room, is a revolutionary act?