London scoping - ukcip

Final Report
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6.9.2 Flooding and Rainfall Intensity Impacts
There is anecdotal evidence that flooding can be highly stressful to children, some of whom see
any subsequent rainfall event as threatening (Shackley et al. 2001). Such behavioural and
emotional impacts are likely to affect children’s educational performance.
6.9.3 Other Climate Change Impacts
Higher temperatures may affect the ability of children in schools to concentrate. A change in
the scheduling of the school day is one possible response, e.g. with an earlier start and earlier
finish, as in French schools. This change could, however, have serious repercussions for the
parent(s), as they might then not be able to collect children from schools, or be at home for them
in the afternoons. A different type of response would be for the school day to change, e.g. with
more time spent outdoors in the hottest parts of the day. The ability to change the school day in
this way would, however, depend upon availability of outdoor areas, with appropriate shade.
Redesign of school buildings and lay-out would be one planned adaptation to temperature
change. Change in extreme weather could potentially have some unexpected impacts on
children. Teachers have reported anecdotally that some children become more excitable and
‘hyper-active’ in periods of high winds. Direct behavioural impacts of extreme weather could
contribute to enhanced feelings of vulnerability.
If climate change were to influence the demography of London, this would have a knock-on
effect on the number of children requiring education. Impacts of climate change upon transport
would effect the ability of children to get to and from school.
6.9.4 Socio-Economic Scenario Differences
Under Global Markets (GM), we would have more private-funding of education, and more
parental choice of school and, possibly, more choice concerning the educational approach,
learning style and assessment method. One could perhaps envisage more and earlier
differentiation of pupils, based on evaluation of their particular and specific abilities. This could
exacerbate differences between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’. Under GM there might also be
more children in London needing to be educated (depending on the deficit in population
replacement elsewhere in society). Hence, any impacts of climate change would be more
keenly felt under GM than under RS. The response to higher temperatures in GM would be
more air conditioning in wealthier schools, increasing energy bills.
6.10 Redevelopment and Movement of Population
6.10.1 Context
Large-scale development is planned to occur across Greater London. For the purposes of this
study the most significant is the Thames Gateway, which is the largest regeneration project in
the UK. Whilst we will focus upon the Thames Gateway in the following section, we should
make it clear that similar issues will also apply to all new building which occurs in the flood
plain, not just of the River Thames, but also of its tributaries. With the Channel Tunnel Rail
Link (CTRL) now agreed, the regeneration is also of national and EU importance (TGLP,
2001). The overall aim is for the East of England and South East Economic Development
Agencies (EEDA & SEEDA) to work alongside the Greater London Authority, the London
Development Agency (LDA) and Transport for London (TfL) in focusing sustainable