Nearly 9,500 people die each year in London because of air pollution

Adam Vaughn in the Guardian (UK): Nearly 9,500 people die early each year in London due to long-term exposure to air pollution, more than twice as many as previously thought, according to new research. The premature deaths are due to two key pollutants, fine particulates known as PM2.5s and the toxic gas nitrogen dioxide (NO2), according to a study carried out by researchers at King’s College London.

The study – which was commissioned by the Greater London Authority and Transport for London – is believed to be the first by any city in the world to attempt to quantify how many people are being harmed by NO2. The gas is largely created by diesel cars, lorries and buses, and affects lung capacity and growth.

London, Birmingham, and Leeds are among the UK cities that have been in breach of EU safety limits on NO2 for five years, prompting legal action that led to a supreme court ruling in April that the government must publish a clean-up plan by the end of the year.

Previous research attributed 4,267 annual premature deaths to PM2.5s in 2008, based on 2006 levels of the particulates. Subsequent falls in those particulates and a change in methodology that excludes natural sources of the pollutant sees that figure fall to 3,537 for 2010 levels of PM2.5s in the new study. However that fall is more t
han cancelled out by the addition of an estimated 5,879 deaths from NO2 each year, bringing the total early deaths from both pollutants in 2010 to 9,416....

London view from St. Paul's, shot by Ian Buchanan, Wikimedia Commons via Flickr, under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

Future heat waves pose risk for population of greater London

A press release from the University of Oxford: A study led by Oxford University has modelled the effects of future heat waves on people living in Greater London in 2050 and concludes that the risk of heat-related deaths could be significantly reduced if buildings were adapted properly for climate change.

The model, which takes into account future changes to urban land use and man-made heat emissions, estimates an additional 800 heat-related deaths per year by 2050. Researchers used projections on likely increases in temperatures carried out by the Met Office and Newcastle University, coupled with data on demographic changes from the Office of National Statistics, to calculate the likely health risks of future heat waves for the population of Greater London.

The research, published online by the journal Climatic Change, says that policy makers need to fo
cus on how to adapt buildings and cities for future climate change. It highlights London as particularly vulnerable, owing to the so-called ‘urban heat island’ effect, which sees cities become hotter than the surrounding areas due to high concentrations of people, buildings and activities.

The Oxford study calculates that if the likely temperature increase was lessened by 1-2°C through better ventilation, shading or other means of keeping buildings cooler, the number of heat-related deaths could be cut by between 32-69%. The study also suggests that current climate scenarios tend to underestimate the effects and risks of heat waves in urban areas because they don’t account for the additional effect of the urban heat island.

It is widely known that summer heat waves lead to rises in the number of deaths and hospital admissions from thermal exhaustion, and projections suggest that heat waves are likely to become more regular and intense in the future. During the 2003 heat wave, London experienced a rise in the number of deaths of between 650 and 1,000. Hospital admissions from other heat-related conditions such as heat exhaustion and respiratory disorders also rose....

A rooftop view of London, circa 1865

Southeast England most at risk of rising deaths due to climate change

AlphaGalileo via Imperial College, London: Warmer summers brought on by climate change will cause more deaths in London and southeast England than the rest of the country, scientists predict. Researchers at Imperial College London looked at temperature records and mortality figures for 2001 to 2010 to find out which districts in England and Wales experience the biggest effects from warm temperatures.

 In the most vulnerable districts, in London and the southeast, the odds of dying from cardiovascular or respiratory causes increased by over 10 per cent for every 1C rise in temperature. Districts in the far north were much more resilient, seeing no increase in deaths at equivalent temperatures.

Writing in Nature Climate Change, the researchers say local variations in climate change vulnerability should be taken into account when assessing the risks and choosing policy responses.

 Dr James Bennett, the lead author of the study from the MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health at Imperial College London, said: “It’s well known that warm weather can increase the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory deaths, especially in elderly people. Climate change is expected to raise average temperatures and increase temperature variability, so we can expect it to have effects on mortality even in countries like the UK with a temperate climate.”

 Across England and Wales as a whole, a summer that is 2C warmer than average would be expected to cause around 1,550 extra deaths, the study found. Just over half would be in people aged over 85, and 62 per cent would be in women. The extra deaths would be distributed unevenly, with 95 out of 376 districts accounting for half of all deaths.

The effects of warm temperature were similar in urban and rural districts. The most vulnerable districts included deprived districts in London such as Hackney and Tower Hamlets, with the odds of dying more than doubling on very hot days like those of August 2003....

Sweltering in the London Tube, 2006, shot by Pedro Figueiredo, Wikimedia Commons via Flickr, under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license

Floods could overwhelm London as sea levels rise - unless Thames Barrier is upgraded

Steve Connor in the Independent (UK): There is significant risk of London being hit by a devastating storm surge in the Thames estuary by 2100 that could breach existing flood defences and cause immense damage to the capital, a study of global sea-level rise has found.

Melting of polar ice sheets and mountain glaciers could increase sea levels significantly over the coming decades leading to a 1 in 20 risk that the existing Thames Barrier would be unable to cope with an extreme storm surge, the study concluded.

Extreme storm surges that can breach the barrier would in the past have occurred with a frequency of about 1 in 1,000 years, but in a warmer world they could occur as frequently as 1 in every 10 years, scientists said.

The increased threat posed by rising sea levels is one of the reasons why flood defences around the Thames estuary and the barrier itself will be strengthened.

An international panel of glaciologists and climate scientists said there is still huge uncertainty about how sea levels will change in the coming century as a result of climate change and its effect on polar ice sheets and mountain glaciers....

The Thames Barrier at night, shot by John Sparshatt, Wikimedia Commons via Geograph UK, under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license

Ofwat urged to recognise the true value of water in London

edie.net: Water must be managed better in London, and leakage rates are not likely to improve significantly because Ofwat targets are not stringent enough, according to the London Assembly.  A report issued today by the Assembly's Health and Environment Committee, issues a range of recommendations for managing water supplies more effectively and avoiding drought restrictions in the future.

Despite heavy rain - with more expected today, the report, called Water Matters, warns that the capital cannot rely solely on its own rainfall. It claims that uncertainties about future rainfall, an increasing population and the effects of climate change, are placing more pressure on water supplies.

Although there have been improvements from water companies, a quarter of London's treated drinking water is still lost through leakage. The report suggests that because all four of London's water companies are already meeting or beating their Ofwat targets set up to 2015, leakage rates are unlikely to improve in the next few years.

The report calls for Ofwat to take into account long-term economic, social and environmental costs of supplying water when it calculates leakage targets.

The Assembly's findings say there is plenty to be done to reduce the amount of water Londoners use - currently around 167 litres per day - such as implementing aerators on taps and using hosepipe fittings. It also called on DECC to reconsider excluding cold water efficiency measures when the National Green Deal is implemented.

In addition, the Assembly has called for water companies to install more water meters - currently only around a quarter of households in London have them....

A puddle in London, shot by Oxfordian Kissuth, Wikimedia Commons, under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license

Opposition to London "super sewer" forces Thames Water to revise plans

Carys Matthews in edie.net: Thames Water has unveiled revised plans to use brownfield sites, rather than greenfield, as part of its London Thames Tunnel project, resulting in £500m in additional costs. The second consultation on plans to build a "super sewer" under the Thames in London was launched last week (November 4) by Thames Water, which has now revised its earlier construction plans in response to opposition and feedback gained from its first consultation.

Under the latest proposals, the tunnel would run beneath existing infrastructure to transfer sewage that currently spills into the tidal Thames, to Beckton Sewage Treatment Works in east London, this would link with the Lee Tunnel, which is already under construction.

The project has been the subject of much controversy, despite the initial plans being approved by the London Assembly in December last year. Thames Water says the revised plans have taken public concerns over environment issues and long-term disruption into account. As a result, alternatives to the two greenfield sites at Barn Elm playing fields and King's Stairs Garden have been found, along with the implementation of measures to minimise the overall disruption caused during construction.

However, the use of brownfield alternatives, as well as other factors, is estimated to increase costs by about half a billion pounds, with the overall cost for the project calculated to be £4.1bn at 2011 prices. This is estimated to add around £70 - £80 a year to the average bill from 2013....

The Northern Outfall Sewer flows into Beckton Sewage Works The Northern Outfall Sewer drains much of London north of the Thames. Here it flows into the Beckton Sewage Treatment Plant 1481871 for cleaning up before flowing into the Thames. Shot by John Rostron, Wikimedia Commons via Geograph UK, under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license

Thames Water begins pipe replacement project near Olympic Park

Carys Matthews in edie.net: Thames Water is replacing century-old pipes near the Olympic Park in a bid to reduce leaks and bursts. The £630,000 project in Waltham Forest, London started last weekend (13 August) and will see the water company lay 1.8km of robust plastic piping in place of 100-year-old cast iron pipes.

As part of the project, which is expected to take around four months, pipes in Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, will initially be replaced before work can be done in other areas. According to Thames Water, the plastic pipes will significantly reduce the volume of water that is lost through leaks and help to avoid future disruption to services.

Thames Water's head of capital delivery, Lawrence Gosden, said: "The pipe we are replacing is old and leaky. Not only does this waste water, it also inconveniences people when we have to dig up the road and do repairs.

"While we apologise for the inevitable disruption work of this nature causes, replacing old and leaking mains is essential as our water resources come under increasing pressure from climate change and population growth."...

Construction in 2009 at what will be London's Olunder the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic licenseympic Park, shot by Damien Everett, Wikimedia Commons via Flickr,

Study urged for London on climate change risks

Norman de Bono in IFP Press: Washed-out roads, crumbled bridges, flooded homes — lives at risk. Those are the types of threats London city council will discuss Monday, asking staff to look hard at the possible effects of climate change on public works, to avoid disasters which have cost other centres millions in damages.

“There are a number of areas where we are vulnerable, where there is risk to property and lives,” Coun. Joni Baechler, who sits on council’s planning, environmental and engineering committee, said Sunday. The committee has a report detailing what the city needs to do to improve its infrastructure to cope with global warming.

The committee is recommending to full council today further study of the threat to city facilities, such as sewers, by rising water levels. The report also calls for the city to develop a green infrastructure plan and long-term climate change adaptation strategy….

London's mayor criticised on London flood risk management

Luke Walsh in edie.net: Boris Johnson needs to act on the 'serious risk' of flooding if London faces severe rainfall, a new report from the London Assembly says today (July 22). Regardless of the Thames Barrier, in the south east of the capital, the London Assembly's Environment Committee claim some street could flood from rain 'within minutes'.

In 'For a Rainy Day' the committee fear rain fall equal to that other parts of the country experienced in 2007 could flood roads within minutes and rivers soon after. According to the report 'lives could be lost' and damage to property could amount to 'tens of billions of pounds'.
Environment Committee deputy chair, Darren Johnson, said: "It is pure luck London has so far escaped the kind of flooding that devastated other parts of the country in 2007, and we know climate change makes severe rainstorms more likely in the future.

"To protect lives and help prevent extensive property damage, Londoners need to be better informed about flood risk and the mayor must lead on ensuring everything possible is done to protect people's homes and businesses." Mr Johnson went onto explain the capital is particularly susceptible to flooding because it is so built up and water quickly gets into drains and rivers....

A Thames River flood wall, part of the Estuary defences, shot by Nigel Chadwick, Wikimedia Commons via Geograph UK, under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license

Thames Water opens first large-scale desalination plant in UK

Juliette Jowit in the Guardian (UK): The first large-scale desalination plant to turn seawater into drinking water for homes and businesses in the UK will open today in the latest sign of growing concern about water stress in the country's most populated regions.

Although the technology is more normally associated with parched places such as the Middle East and Australia, the south-east of England – where the plant is located – has less rainfall per person than Istanbul, Dallas or Sydney.

Thames Water has spent £250m building the plant and pipes, and has said that the equipment will only be turned on at times of drought, when it can supply up to 1 million people. During a protracted planning case against the opposition of former London mayor Ken Livingstone, Thames Water claimed that London and the surrounding region faced "a high risk of sever water shortages" unless the plant was allowed to go ahead.

However opponents have claimed that the plant will use too much energy and the company should be doing more to stop leaking pipes and reduce the average water use of customers by installing more water meters and better promotions….

The Beckton Gas Works, presumably near the site of the desal plan. Shot by Graham Smith, who lived nearby when the apocalyptic ending of Full Metal Jacket was filmed there. Wikimedia Commons via Flickr, under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

Big clean as Thames hits five year low

Luke Walsh in edie.net: The Thames will fall to a five year low next month giving volunteers and ideal opportunity to pick up rubbish. Thames21, the London waterways charity, is calling for 800 volunteers to join them to give the River Thames a 'deep clean'.

Vast expanses of river are normally underwater but will be uncovered for a brief period each morning of March 2 and 3. Across four London sites, Thames21 will provide all equipment, support and guidance necessary to help volunteers make a practical improvement to London's environment. Thames21 river programmes manager, Chris Coode, said: "We're expecting hundreds of volunteers to join in and help make practical improvements to London's foreshores.

"These environments are often seen as abandoned spaces that damage some of London's greatest views instead of the most unique and fascinating open spaces London has to offer. Please join us and help make a lasting difference. "Volunteers are invited to do as much or as little as they are willing to and are advised to wear old clothes. Boots and gloves will be provided."….

Dagenham Docks, East London, shot by Lars Plougmann, Wikimedia Commons via Flickr, under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license

Flood defence plan for 'at risk' borough in London

Julie Eysenck in the London Informer: Flood water could swamp parts of Pimlico and south Westminster in just 30 minutes, according to a recent study. In a worst case scenario, if the Thames Barrier failed and defences on the Embankment were breached, combined with a one-in-200-years tidal flood, there could be a two-metre rise in water levels in just half an hour.

…Westminster Council planners mapped the likely course of flood waters, in a bid to help them improve defences to protect homes and businesses built on flood plains. The last time Westminster suffered severe flooding was in 1928, when 14 people died. However, the borough is likely to become more vulnerable to the risks of flooding in future because of rising tides and heavier rainfall brought on by climate change.

Last Tuesday, several tube stations were closed and parts of the borough were brought to a standstill due to the torrential downpours of rain. Recommendations made by the council include introducing simple and natural forms of drainage to reduce the amount of flood water running into drains, such as water tanks, paving which allows water to drain through, and 'living' sedum roofs.

Deputy Westminster Council leader Councillor Robert Davis said: "Like many major cities, London is built on the banks of a great river and is therefore vulnerable to climate change. "Although Westminster is currently well protected, we must ensure the city is prepared for any eventuality by planning ahead….”

Buttress from the river steps of the now-vanished Millbank Prison, in Pimlico, London. Shot by Fin Fahey, Wikimedia Commons, under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5 License

Cities to sizzle as islands of heat

The Times (UK): London and other cities could see summer temperatures rise to more than 10C above those in the surrounding countryside, according to Met Office research being used to help devise the first official climate change map of Britain. Scientists have been studying a phenomenon known as the urban heat island effect, in which cities become significantly hotter than the areas around them because of the heat they generate themselves.

Big cities such as London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow already reach temperatures 2C - 3C above their surroundings in the summer. Scientists fear that difference could grow four to fivefold as hotter weather combines with soaring energy use and population growth, making such temperature gaps more frequent and more extreme. The research is linked to a wider project aimed at helping scientists predict the impact rising temperatures will have on different parts of the country. The full results will be released next month by Hilary Benn, the environment secretary.

Vicky Pope, the head of climate change advice at the Met Office, said: “As the climate gets warmer, sweltering summer temperatures will combine with rising energy use, the heat-retaining properties of buildings, and the sheer volume of people, to push temperatures higher and higher….

Hyde Park, London, England, United Kingdom, July 3rd 2005 6:49am, by Huax

Restoring London rivers to reduce flood risk, improve biodiversity

This Is London: Almost 10 miles of London's rivers will be restored to pristine condition to encourage wildlife and reduce flood risks, according to plans launched today. Many tributaries of the Thames have been affected by the building of heavily engineered concrete channels to combat flooding and allow urban development.

But the London Rivers Action Plan aims to restore 9.3 miles of the capital's rivers, including parts of the Roding, Wandle and Colne, to an original state by 2015 to improve the urban environment for people and wildlife. It is hoped the restoration will attract species including otters, water voles and kingfishers, provide areas for local residents to visit and help the capital cope with the impacts of climate change such as flooding.

About 13.7 miles of London's rivers have been restored over the past 15 years, including a section of the Quaggy in Greenwich which has been brought out of its underground culvert and into a landscaped park. Restoring rivers to their original state can defend against flooding by forming basins which absorb and hold excess water and the Environment Agency said that in some areas restoration has reduced antisocial behaviour….

The River Roding in London, shot by "MRSC", Wikimedia Commons

London's overheating buildings and skyline must adapt to climate change

Media Newswire: The University of Reading's Meteorology Department is leading a major new project to help understand how London's existing and new buildings directly affect, and need to adapt to, climate change. ….The funding will create the Advanced Climate Technology Urban Atmospheric Laboratory (ACTUAL ), which will investigate the impact that buildings themselves have on London's changing climate. Results will be integrated directly into engineering and policy areas which impact on urban infrastructure.

Dr. Janet Barlow, the ACTUAL project leader from the University of Reading, said: "Most of the world's population lives in cities, which are already responsible for 80% of the world's carbon emissions. London's energy consumption soared during the 2003 heat wave as offices and public buildings switched on air conditioning systems across the city. Such extreme temperatures are predicted to be a regular occurrence by the 2050s, at which point 70% of our current buildings will still be around. They are not designed to function in what will be the equivalent of the current-day Mediterranean climate."

The initial five year project will use buildings such as the BT Tower to investigate sustainable adaptation of buildings to a warmer London climate. The research will focus on three areas: improving urban climate simulation, assessing the effect of building layout on city ventilation and developing tools to optimise urban renewable energy generation….

The BT Tower in London, shot by Mahlum, Wikimedia Commons

Air conditioning could 'heat up' London

H & V News: The large scale installation of air conditioning to combat rising temperatures in London could make conditions in the capital even hotter – according to a draft report on climate change issued by the mayor’s office. The draft London climate change adaptation strategy issued by Mayor of London Boris Johnson states: “In order to avoid unsustainable adaptation, when considering possible adaptation options, the wider implications of the action should be assessed over the lifetime of the action. “For example, air conditioning is not considered to be a sustainable adaptation action except in extreme circumstances (because of the large energy demands),”

A particular concern raised by the report is the effect on the ‘urban heat island’ within London by waste heat from air conditioning systems. This is where heat generated in the city by traffic, air conditioning systems and other energy uses adds to the heat being radiated from the buildings and roads, further raising temperatures in the area and meaning there is little let up during a heat wave. The report says the contribution to the urban heat island by human activity – known as anthropogenic - is thought to be “minimal across” the whole of London at the moment, but significant in high density areas.

The report said: “In Westminster and the City of London modelling suggests that the anthropogenic contribution, calculated using the total energy demand for buildings and traffic, may be a significant contribution to urban heating….

Typical airconditioning unit. Shot by Achim Hering, Wikimedia Commons, under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2

London's mayor warns city to prepare for future drought, floods and heat

This Is London (UK): 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.

…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.

…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…..

The Thames Barrier, shot by Andy Roberts from East London, England, Wikimedia Commons via Flickr, under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License