Councillor adaptation engagement programme

The LCCP (London Climate Change Partnership) is a group of over 30 public and private sector organisations, including London Councils, which have a role to play in getting London ready for the impacts of climate change.

This year LCCP and London Councils are jointly working on a project to improve councillor engagement with climate change adaptation issues.

LCCP and London Councils are keen to demonstrate that climate change has increased the threat to London from extreme weather events, like floods or heat-waves, and that these can have wide ranging implications for local authorities, particularly in terms of community resilience, public health and significant future costs.

Briefings

As part of this project we have produced a range of member briefings on relevant adaptation issues, which aim to highlight how wide-ranging the implications of climate change will be. The briefings have been issued to members through the London Councils’ member briefing service.

The issues covered are:

• Extreme weather threats in London
• The health costs of poor air quality
• The growing problem of fuel poverty
• Increasing resilience to hot weather
• Community responses to surface water flooding

Workshops

As part of this project London Councils will host two workshops for councillors to explore what practical schemes can be put in place within local authority areas to help communities reduce the health problems associated with climate change, and boost their own level of preparation and resilience to extreme weather events.

8^th Dec (pm) - Boosting your community's resilience to extreme weather

For centuries London has faced the threat of extreme weather, such as floods and heatwaves. However, the effect of climate change will mean that in the coming years these events will be happen more frequently and will be more intense. Extreme weather can have very serious implications for the local economy, residents’ health and wellbeing and for Londoners’ property.

Local authorities are key players in helping communities to understand these risks and prepare for them. Boroughs have a range of tools to hand, particularly through their planning powers, which can help reduce the long-term impacts of extreme weather events and boost community resilience.

This workshop is designed to support councillors’ efforts within their own communities to ensure that residents and public services are ready for extreme weather. We will hear from speakers already working with communities in London on practical projects to help support local people’s efforts to prepare their own homes and neighbourhoods for extreme weather events.

Members can register their interest for this event here

19th Jan - The public health implications of climate change

The effects of climate change will see more frequent and more extreme weather events in London. From heatwaves to cold snaps, these events will have very serious implications for public health and in particular the welfare of the most vulnerable members of society. 

Already poor air quality in London is known to shorten life expectancy in the capital. Over 4,000 premature deaths in the capital each are attributable to air pollution, with each person dying on average 11 years early. Periods of very warm or very cold weather, particularly when they occur suddenly, also result in an increase in deaths and illnesses.

From next year local authorities will take on new public health responsibilities, and will be faced with a range of competing health priorities, of which climate change is just one. Our workshop will explore what the public health risks are from extreme weather and climate change impacts, and how preparation may reduce their cost. We will hear from speakers involved in initiatives to reduce environmental threats and protect the health and wellbeing of Londoners.

More information will follow shortly.