Preparing for extreme heat in London while minimising greenhouse gas emissions: a focus on emergency responses

Stakeholder workshop report

Authors: Candice Howarth, Mitia Aranda and Anna Beswick with Louise Elstow

This report summarises a workshop held in London in October 2024 that aimed to contribute to co-developing a strategy for adopting climate-resilient net zero responses to extreme heat through education and awareness-raising. The geographical focus of the workshop was the Greater London area.

The workshop was part of project researching how preparations, prevention and responses to extreme heat can be designed and implemented in a way that does not further increase greenhouse gas emissions. This research has been conducted in close collaboration with the British Red Cross, to understand this issue particularly in the context of emergency responses.

The workshop objectives were:

• To share emerging findings from the research to date
• To gain participants’ views and input on how best to keep Londoners cool during periods of heat without increasing their greenhouse gas emissions. The participants represented emergency responders/charities, local authorities, academics and scientific organisations, national government and non-profit organisations with no emergency response focus.
• To enhance collective understanding of how adapting to the impacts of heat without increasing emissions can be incorporated into emergency responses and planning.