Londoners Urged to Pay for Paving Over Gardens, Climate Report Suggests
A new report to the mayor suggests that Londoners who pave over their gardens should face charges and be incentivized to remove the paving. The report highlights the necessity for a new reservoir, enhanced flood defenses, and a "heat plan" to safeguard vulnerable residents from the increasing threat of heatwaves.
By the end of this decade, four out of ten properties in London could be affected by subsidence due to soil drying out in anticipated higher temperatures. Without action, heatwaves could result in thousands of additional deaths. Additionally, London is inadequately prepared for surface flooding, prompting a recommendation for a strategic surface water authority. The concreting of land has reduced the ground's ability to absorb water during heavy rainfall.
Emma Howard Boyd, chair of the review, emphasized that stormwater charges for concreting over gardens are intended to encourage environmental responsibility rather than serve as a penalty. Drawing on successful global practices, she pointed out the excessive hard surfaces in the city and the need for more permeable areas to absorb water.
Howard Boyd also suggested that utilities could leave "rain gardens" after digging holes in roads and pavements. These small vegetated areas can help absorb runoff from heavy rain.
Commissioned by Mayor Sadiq Khan, the London Climate Resilience Review makes 50 recommendations, including maintaining street trees, constructing a new Thames barrier by 2070, and planning alternative methods for fire suppression without water.
Khan's re-election in May, following a campaign that highlighted low emission zones, demonstrated a strong mandate for robust climate policies. Howard Boyd stressed that the new government must consider both the costs of enhancing London's climate resilience and the costs of inaction, which could severely impact productivity.
The report found that London loses about £577 million annually due to heat effects, with Transport for London losing £8.4 million in revenue during the July 2022 heatwave. Without adaptation, 2% to 3% of London's GDP could be lost annually by the 2050s.
Recent extreme weather events, such as severe flash flooding in July 2021 and a record-breaking heatwave in 2022, have strained the city's infrastructure. The heatwave led to 387 heat-related deaths, and wildfires placed unprecedented pressure on London's fire brigade.
Howard Boyd called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to prioritize climate resilience. She described 2024 as a pivotal year, with anticipated record-breaking heatwaves, wildfires, and storms, urging the government to integrate climate protection into its response to the cost of living crisis.