The impacts of climate change will cost London up to £15 billion a year by 2050 unless drastic action is taken at all levels of government, a new report has warned.
Research by Central London Forward (CLF), a partnership of the capital’s 12 central boroughs, says more frequent heatwaves, floods and droughts will place increasing pressure on both public services and residents’ finances in the coming decades. The report highlights how London has already experienced record temperatures in recent summers, with the city’s Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. This is making some areas feel significantly hotter due to the concentration of buildings and paved surfaces that trap heat.
Researchers argue that expanding green infrastructure such as parks, gardens, urban forests, wetlands and green roofs could help reduce temperatures, absorb rainfall and lower flood risks. One example highlighted in the report is Elephant Park, described as one of the largest new green spaces created in central London in more than 70 years.
The report also calls for large-scale retrofitting of social housing to help homes cope with rising temperatures. But it notes that funding remains a significant challenge given the scale of the work required.
Flood resilience is another major concern. According to the report, much of London’s drainage and sewer network was built more than 150 years ago and was designed for a smaller city with more green space.
To reduce flood risks, the Greater London Authority has promoted measures such as permeable paving and Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), but researchers say these projects are difficult to deliver at the scale required without additional support.
The report also praises the GLA’s Cool Spaces Network, which identifies libraries, leisure centres and parks where people can seek relief during extreme heat. However, researchers suggest many Londoners remain unaware of the scheme.
CLF is calling for stronger national legislation to ensure local authorities prioritise climate adaptation and for long-term funding that councils can access without competing against one another.
Charlie Rainsford, Assistant Director of Policy and External Affairs at Central London Forward, said the effects of climate change were already visible. He said: “The effects of climate breakdown are already being felt in Central London, with severe thunderstorms and heatwaves in the space of 24 hours. It is vital that we make Central London more climate resilient so that we can keep people safe, support businesses and maintain London’s place as an attractive place for visitors.”
City Hall said the Mayor has funded the planting of more than 640,000 trees since 2016 and supported the creation or improvement of around 900 hectares of green space across the capital. A spokesperson for the Mayor said recent extreme heat alerts showed why adaptation measures were becoming increasingly important and pointed to initiatives including free Cool Spaces, water refill stations and the newly launched Heat Ready London programme aimed at preparing the capital for rising temperatures.
