London scoping - ukcip

ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS
Final Report
272
• Environmental preservation needs to take precedence over short-term economic
arguments.
• Fragmented habitats within London adaptation for species difficult without
migration.
• (Planning policies could lead to) loss of habitat/species diversity, e.g. Loss of inter
tidal habitats through ‘coastal squeeze’ and loss of designated habitats currently
protected by sustainable defences.
• Over intense development causes increased noise/nuisance, poor access to open
space, reduced diversity of habitats and species.
• Lack of water resource to maintain and re-create wetland habitats.
• Inflexibility of current conservation legislation (e.g. Habitats regulations) to adopt
to changes.
• Habitat loss and therefore increase flood risk.
• Loss of habitat and erosion of environmental legislation (EU habitats directive).
• Loss of trees driven by an insurance industry which sees trees as economically
damaging.
• Air pollution.
• Dust due to dryer climate in summer plus increased construction to accommodate
new housing.
• Increased use of energy for cooling.
• Climate change could be overcome by social acceptance of improved/safer Nuclear
Energy Generation possibly on a localised and modularised basis.
• Water contamination from sewers and flooding of landfill.
• Can water resources, rivers, flow, biodiversity be maintained/managed?
• Lack of water for say normal use WC’s, basin, baths, taps. More importantly for
fire fighting. Need to collect/save rainwater run off in the area it falls?
• Storm/flood damage occurrence.
• Increase in sewer flooding.
• Damage to historic and natural resources e.g. historic parks and palaces.
• Threat to existing character of area by higher densities/over development.
• Increased pollution as a result of increased road use - if public transport disruption.
• Threat on agricultural production - type of food types etc.