Our climate resilience and adaptation strategy
The climate emergency remains the challenge of our time, and time is running out. The best action we can take is to cut our emissions as quickly as possible. We already have a plan to do this, with an ambition to be a carbon neutral borough by 2030. However, we also know that our climate is changing now, and it changing fast.
That is why we have made a draft strategy to prepare Southwark for the future. The draft strategy creates a framework to protect our communities, homes, infrastructure and environment. It is a strategy for the whole of the borough, and sets out how we will:
- future-proof the borough’s buildings, streets and critical infrastructure
- work with others to prepare, plan and respond to challenges and shocks
- improve the borough at the same time, such as by improving air quality and biodiversity and reducing inequalities
The council already does a lot of work in these areas, including:
- shaping new building design in planning policy to reduce overheating
- managing flood risk and delivering sustainable urban drainage schemes
- emergency planning that ensures we have a quick and effective response to support residents in times of need
- large programmes of urban greening and planting
Our draft strategy recognises this ongoing work while ensuring that we're prepared for the challenges that climate change will bring.
How you can help us
Every part of our borough needs to work together to make sure we are as prepared as possible for the changes in our climate.
We held a public consultation on our draft strategy between 29 August and 10 October 2023. Thank you for taking part, and helping us to understand how to make our resilience and adaptation strategy and action plan as helpful as possible for all of Southwark.
We are currently considering all of the feedback we received and using this to inform a final climate change resilience and adaptation strategy.
Find out more
What does the council plan to do?
Download and read our draft strategy, as well as other documents
Page last updated: 03 November 2023
