London scoping - ukcip

Final Report
xiii
building and urban design. These climate change issues do not relate only to
London.
The London insurance industry, as one of the three largest global insurance centres,
is particularly exposed to an increased volume of claims from business and
domestic customers that are likely to occur in the event of higher and more extreme
wind storms and flood events. Since UK insurers offer greater insurance protection
for weather-related damage than their competitors elsewhere, they are,
consequentially, more exposed to climate change effects.
the economic costs of weather-related disruption to London transport systems was
the economic impact most widely identified by stakeholders in the consultation
process.
the net balance of change in energy demand as a consequence of climate change in
London is not clear. The supply infrastructure network is vulnerable to windstorms
and clay shrinkage. The economic impacts of disruption to the power supply for
extended periods has not been estimated in quantitative terms but is believed to be
significant.
manufacturing is subject to disruption of raw materials (e.g. food stuffs) that are
supplied from parts of the world adversely impacted by climate change.
revenues from tourism may increase as London - and the UK - becomes a more
attractive destination in summer relative to those in Southern Europe and elsewhere
that are likely to suffer from adverse climate change impacts. However, more trips
may be taken from London to escape uncomfortably high temperatures due to heat
island impacts.
Increased general awareness of potential and actual climate change impacts in London is likely
to focus policy makers minds on the need to mitigate and adapt to such impacts locally and
globally in the future. Indeed, many of the key strategic and policy processes have begun to
consider the potential impacts of climate change. Awareness of climate change issues amongst
stakeholders involved in this study was high and is accelerating. However, most of the strategy
and policy responses are of a scoping nature and more work needs to be done to begin to
quantify the potential climate change impacts and adaptation options at the local level including
impact on water resources, flooding, water quality, settlement patterns, employment, working
conditions, open spaces, infrastructure, economic sectors, biodiversity, economic sectors, health
and the built environment.