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Boris warns city to prepare for future drought, floods and heat
Mark Prigg, Evening Standard29.08.08
Floods, heatwaves and drought could cause a virtual collapse of the capital unless action is taken to address climate change, Boris Johnson warned today.
Launching London's Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, the Mayor said global warming would affect all Londoners.
"For London, scientists currently forecast warmer, wetter winters and hotter drier summers, coupled with an increase in the frequency of extreme weather and rising sea levels," he said.
The report estimates 1.25million people would be affected by a major flood. It goes on to suggest ways to tackle climate change and mitigate its effects.
But it comes as the Mayor faces increased criticism from environmentalists for failing to appoint a green adviser within his administration.
Jenny Jones, a Green Party London Assembly member, has accused Mr Johnson of failing to secure the team he needs to deliver on his promise to cut carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2025.
Speaking at the Thames Barrier last night, Mr Johnson said: "Urban areas are inherently vulnerable to the impact of climate change - the density of people and assets means that there is automatically more at stake.
"The strategy I am launching today outlines in detail the range of weather conditions facing London, which could both seriously threaten our quality of life - particularly that of the most vulnerable people - and endanger our preeminence as one of the world's leading cities."
The plan sets out a case for new green areas across London to help offset the "urban heat island" effect caused by large buildings trapping heat. It also calls for new plans to deal with flooding.
"By the end of the century, winters will become warmer, suggesting a traditional white Christmas might happen just once in a Londoner's lifetime," it says.
"The rising temperatures-will mean new and exotic flora and fauna in London which are more commonly seen in Mediterranean climates.
"Londoners will face an increased risk of floods, droughts and heatwaves that will endanger the prosperity of the city and the quality of life for all."
Robert Runcie, the Environment Agency's Thames regional director, said: "London's world class city is currently protected from the increasing risk of tidal flooding by the Thames Barrier, which will see us into the next century as the people and businesses of London move forward in adapting to meet the challenges of climate change.
"We welcome the Mayor's strategy and will be playing our part in helping deliver the solutions such as planning for London's future tidal flood defences."
The Mayor's office will review the report with the Greater London Authority and other bodies before a second version goes out for public consultation next year.
Reader views (11)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
Boris scrapped the co2 charging scheme for the congestion zone which would have been a good incentive to buy co2 efficient cars, so he says one thing but does the opposite.
- Simon, hemel uk
Prepare for future drought, floods and heat.
In other words - weather!
- Adam, Harrow, uk
Apparently the issue of illegal workers made it to a couple episodes of Corrie. Here at home we have the CBC TV comedy "Little Mosque on the Prairie".
As long as we rely on our establishments to allow this, is as long as it's going to take to fix it. Strap yourselves in tighter Cousins...it's a long and nauseating ride.
- Jeff, Morphys Falls, Canada
Sorry Boris - you will not get any traction on climate change until people see some tangible evidence with their own eyes. Forecasting hotter drier summers just makes people laugh - when are they going to happen exactly? How many consecutive days of "summer weather" did we get this year,(or last)?
- Kevin, London
Good to see Boris is looking after London and attempting to make it a place everyone will able to enjoy in the future and not pandering to the minority who are against global warming for their own personal selfish reasons.
It is a shame to see posts such as the ones above "To tackle extreme heat, there should be free air conditioners" and "greenwashing". This doesn't really contribute anything to the debate. The sooner we act, the easier the transition will become. We're finding it hard now as nothing has been done earlier. Lets not repeat these mistakes.
More environmental progressive policies Boris and make London a truly great place, for everyone.
- Adam, London
It doesn't matter what you are afraid of, just be very afraid. Then the government can resolve your problems by depriving you of what little remains of the Magna Carta and other basic elements of the British Constitution.
If you won't be afraid of this rubbish from the Greens, then be afraid of knives, guns, self exploding terrorists, David Icke's lizards, it doesn't really matter what.
Just remember, be afraid.
- Yokel, Home Counties
How about you stop building houses in people back yards, tarmacked front gardens should have to be dug up and grass returned, and stop selling off green spaces.
Oh yeah....and the free air conditioner thing.
- Steve, London
Boris,
Whenever the Government siggest ways of encouraging people to cut their consumption your party makes political capital out of it by claiming that they are Green but won't use compulsion. Other posters have shown that Tories want gas guzzling cars, cheap petrol and air conditioning regardless of the consequences and Dave Camoron does a cycling publicity stunt with a Chauffeur driven car for his clothes and expects people to follow his example. Either be green or don't care less but don't try con tricks. What car do you drive Boris?
- Arthur Dent, Chiswick
Old Boris left out a plague of flies and it raining frogs but he does issue his warnings with a broad brush I will grant you.
- Cumbria Bulldog, Gdansk, Poland
Boris: do not get side-tracked from developing London into a great city by Greenwashing. There is more to developing policies than worrying about climate change.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland
To hell with the greens! To tackle extreme heat, there should be free air conditioners for all Londoners. We need to build another Thames Barrier to prevent flood. And for the forecasters who predicted hotter and drier summers...is that forecast for London? They should all be sacked.
- Ad, London
