London not prepared for floods and droughts, new report finds

• London must prepare for severe floods and heatwaves
• The report showed investment opportunities in London
• Sadiq Khan welcomed the recommendations

London is currently not prepared for the effects of climate change and is in need of a ‘reset moment’ so that it can cope with rising temperatures, floods and droughts, according to The London Climate Resilience Review.

Commissioned by Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, the report’s gathered evidence from individuals, communities and businesses, as well as the representative of vulnerable groups. 

It warned that lawmakers need to make significant changes to protect London’s people, property, environment and GDP from extreme weather.

A particular threat is different weather extremes happening at the same time, such as heatwaves, droughts and floods, which will be more likely in the future. 

For instance, it said that the UK’s ageing population, particularly people over 65 in care homes, are at the highest risk of heat-related mortality, and almost half (43%) of London properties are likely to be affected by subsidence by 2030 at current rates.

Another risk is to London’s trees, and other green and blue spaces, which are under threat from heatwaves, wildfires and windstorms. This weakens London’s resilience as trees reduce street temperatures in heatwaves and decrease flood risk.

Additionally, initial analysis indicates climate change could impact London’s GDP by 2-3% every year by the 2050s, with costs increasing further in late century.

The report showed investment opportunities in London, but warned time was of the essence to act on climate resilience. 

Recommendations

The review said that when London hit 40C in July 2022, there was a 50% increase in water consumption, while reservoirs were at their lowest level for the first time in 30 years.

As a result, it recommended London have a heat plan created to help the city better handle severe floods and heatwaves. 

These including building a new reservoir for London and the south-east and a new Thames Barrier by 2070. It also called for the government  to include in its infrastructure upgrade plan new resilience and technical standards so that homes can cope with extreme weather.

It also said the government should produce a National Wildfire Strategy and Action Plan by the end of 2025. That strategy must reflect the increased risk of reduced water supply due to drought and therefore, consider non-water-based fire suppression methods

Emma Howard Boyd CBE, chairwoman of the review, told The BBC that preparing London for more frequent and extreme climate risks was needed. 

“This is a reset moment for efforts to increase the UK’s stability in the face of global climate disruption. As the new government takes action to end the cost-of-living crisis, protecting the lives and livelihoods of working people from extreme weather is non-negotiable,” she said. 

Sadiq Khan, mayor of London, said: “Climate change is one of the biggest dangers our capital faces, and its effects cannot be ignored.

“It is essential we invest in key sectors and prepare our public services so London can continue to grow and thrive in the face of climate change. The review provides clarity and direction on how to do this.” 

Written By

Tamara Birch Newsletters and sponsored content editor

Tamara is a journalist with more than six years experience writing about environmental topics. This includes advising small businesses on cost-effective ways tom become more sustainable, from installing to solar panels and heat pumps and reducing waste. She has used her journalist and research skills to become highly knowledgeable on sustainable initiatives, issues, and solutions to help consumers do their bit for the environment – all while reducing monthly costs. Now, she’s using this experience to advise homeowners on the benefits of installing low-carbon technologies. She is also qualified in offering innovative initiatives to improve sustainability practices in businesses, from advertising to marketing and publishing.

Her passion for sustainability and eco-friendly solutions stems from a long obsession with nature and animals and ensuring they feel looked after. In her free time, Tamara enjoys reading fantasy novels, visiting the gym, and going on long walks in new areas.

More about

Reviewed By

Maximilian Schwerdtfeger Content manager

Max joined The Eco Experts as content manager in February 2024 and became deputy editor in 2025. He has written about sustainability issues across numerous industries, including maritime, supply chain, finance, mining, and retail. He has also written extensively for consumer titles like City AM, The Morning Star, and The Daily Express.

In 2020, he covered in detail the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) legislation on sulphur emissions and its effects on the global container shipping market as online editor of Port Technology International.

He also explored the initiatives major container ports and terminals have launched in order to ship vital goods across the world without polluting the environment.

Since then, he has reported heavily on the impact made by environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices on the supply chain of minerals, with a particular focus on rare earth mining in Africa.

As part of this, in 2022 Max visited mines and ports in Angola to hone in on the challenges being faced by one of the world’s biggest producers of rare earth minerals.

His most recent sustainability-related work came much closer to home, as he investigated the eco-challenges faced by independent retailers in the UK, specifically looking at how they can cut emissions and continue to thrive.

Max lives in South London and is an avid reader of books on modern history and ghost stories. He has also recently learned to play the game Mahjong and takes every opportunity to do so. He is also yet to find a sport he doesn’t enjoy watching.

More about