London warned climate change will make new infrastructure unfit for purpose

Businesses and local authorities in London have been warned that they are putting millions of pounds of investors and taxpayers' money at risk by continuing to invest in new buildings and infrastructure without paying adequate attention to the climate risks.

The London Climate Change Partnership, a group of businesses, local authorities and academics, has released a series of reports building on recent government-backed climate impact reports, which predict that the capital will face severe disruption from increasingly frequent extreme weather events if efforts to develop climate infrastructure are not accelerated.

One of the reports, titled Adapting to Climate Change: the role of public procurement, warns that millions of pounds are still being invested in buildings and projects that lack simple climate adaptation measures, such as rainwater harvesting, green roofs and trees to provide summer shading, resulting in infrastructure that will " soon not be fit for purpose".

It was accompanied by a second study on the extreme weather events climate scientists are predicting for the capital over the coming decades, which warned that by 2080 the hottest day of the year will be up to 10C hotter, making many current buildings unsuitable and potentially dangerous during summer heat waves.

It also warned that average summer rainfall will fall 19 per cent by 2050 leading to increased drought risks and building subsidence, while winter rainfall is expected to to rise 14 per cent by the same date, resulting in increased damage to property and disruption to transport from flooding.

In addition, it cites projections that sea levels around London will rise 36cm by 2080, putting the capital at increased risks from storm surges.

"Even a world city like London is brought to a standstill in extreme weather such as heavy rain," said partnership chair Gerry Acher. "The heatwave of 2003 is projected to be an average summer by the middle of the century. What we do to prepare for climate change will also make us less vulnerable today and will help to maintain London's competitiveness and Londoners' quality of life."

The reports recommend that local authorities and businesses include the government's climate projections in all infrastructure planning and set criteria based on climate-adaptation requirements in all procurement deals.

Meanwhile, two further reports also urge authorities to introduce new incentives and guidance to encourage commercial and domestic property owners to invest in climate-adaptation measures.

The partnership says that it will now work with the London Councils group to develop climate impact profiles for all 22 of London’s boroughs to help better inform public projects.

The new research was welcomed by Mayor Boris Johnson who is expected to unveil a London-wide climate adaptation strategy before the end of the year.