'Time is running out to act on the climate emergency', Mayor of London warns

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today warned time is running out to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and to tackle the climate emergency before it’s too late.

Climate Vulnerability Mapping produced City Hall and Bloomberg Associates, Bloomberg Philanthropies’ pro-bono consultancy for cities, shows that six London boroughs are at particularly high risk from the effects of climate change, with most boroughs, particularly in inner London, showing at least some high risk.

The boroughs at particularly high risk, meaning that the risk of both flooding and overheating are very high, jeopardising lives and livelihoods are:

- Hackney
- Hammersmith and Fulham
- Islington
- Brent
- Tower Hamlets
- Newham

More generally, City Hall analysis has identified that:

- a quarter of London’s rail stations, and 10 per cent of London’s rail network, are at high risk of flooding in the future if extreme temperatures and flooding get worse.
- 1 in 5 of our schools are either totally or partially at risk of flooding and nearly half of our hospitals.
- there are over 200,000 existing homes and workplaces in London that are at either high or medium risk of surface water flooding alone.
- all school children in London attend schools with toxic air based on the latest WHO guidelines issued yesterday.

A study led by University of Oxford, found that external air temperatures of 27 degrees and above ground will make it uncomfortably hot for passengers on the Tube network. In the worst case scenario, there would be 8 days (baseline period – 1961-1990) where external temperatures exceed 27 degrees, compared to up to 29 days by 2030 and 41 days by 2050.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “In the year of COP26, London is at a crossroads. We either take bold action now or face the consequences - with catastrophic impacts on our environment, the air we breathe and the climate.

“I’m determined for London to be a world leader in tackling the twin dangers of air pollution and the climate emergency so that we can deliver a brighter future for London - one that’s greener, fairer and more prosperous for everyone. That’s why I’ve committed to making London a zero-carbon city by 2030, faster than any comparable city, and it’s why we are delivering a climate action plan that is compatible with the highest ambition of the Paris Agreement. I also want London to be a zero-pollution city so that no child has to grow up in our city breathing toxic air. That’s why I’m expanding the Ultra Low Emission Zone next month.    

“But I can’t do it all alone. That’s why today I’m launching my city-wide campaign to inspire all Londoners – individuals, businesses and communities - to take action. I also want to work with the Government to unlock the powers and funding needed to meet our targets, which will help deliver national targets too.”


Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies and the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Ambition and Solutions, said: “The latest data makes it clear that the global climate emergency requires bold local action. At Bloomberg Philanthropies, we are glad to support the Mayor of London's creative and promising efforts to capitalize on the power of data and art to increase support for public health and raise awareness of the urgent need to fight climate change. We’ve been strong supporters of the Mayor's determined efforts to continue improving London’s air quality and engage young people in his ambition to make London a zero-carbon city by 2030, and this new initiative builds on that work.”

Mayor Philip Glanville, Chair of London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee, said: “As the Mayor of London warns, the climate emergency is already having a damaging impact on Londoners across the capital - the recent flooding this summer was the latest example of this and sadly won’t be the last.

“London boroughs are determined to play a leading role in reducing our city’s carbon emissions to net zero, and alongside individual action plans, London Councils has established an ambitious programme of work around seven key themes. But in order to succeed, we need national Government, our residents, businesses and wider partners across the capital to be part of the solution.

“We must all act now to safeguard the future of our environment, and that means transforming London into a low-carbon city that is more green, equal, healthy and resilient.”