London Councils commissioned City Science to conduct Climate Equity Research. This research aimed to provide London Councils and the London boroughs, with insights that will support the enhancement of climate change policies and practices in order to deliver equitable solutions.
Scope
London Councils, the collective of the 32 London boroughs and the City of London Corporation, commissioned City Science to conduct this Climate Equity Research.
London is a dynamic and diverse city with a population exceeding 9 million people, encompassing a wide range of ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds. Approximately 40% of London’s population belongs to Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic groups. Additionally, London is home to significant populations of people with disabilities, older adults, and economically disadvantaged groups, and these groups are more affected by the impacts of climate change. This diversity necessitates policies and practices that are tailored to meet the varied needs of its residents, ensuring no one is left behind.
This research aimed to provide London Councils and the London boroughs with recommendations about how to adapt and enhance existing climate change focused policies and practices in order to deliver equitable solutions that benefit all of London’s diverse communities. To do this, the objective of this research is to establish a strong evidence base that supports London boroughs to make informed and equitable decisions in the transition to net zero.
The research was guided by:
City Science Response
A national and regional policy review was conducted to understand the policy background relevant to the development of this research. Across the reviewed policies, a broad commitment to addressing climate change was identified. At a national level, there is a focus on place-based approaches and ensuring support for vulnerable communities. At a London level, there is a focus on reducing inequalities, fostering inclusive engagement, and ensuring an equitable transition to net zero.
London Councils produced a Climate Action Plan (CAP) Spreadsheet to compile and analyse borough-wide climate related actions which were published in Borough Climate Action Plans. A total of 232 unique climate interventions were identified by London Councils and assessed using a multi-criteria assessment framework by City Science. The highest-scoring actions per theme were selected for the intervention longlist, to enable a focus on those that demonstrated the greatest effectiveness and equity.
Following the longlist development process, 33 interventions were narrowed down to a final 10 priority interventions. This process was completed through input from London Council officers and engagement with residents. Engagement took place through two key approaches:
- London Councils Net Zero & Adaptation Workshop: A 90-minute workshop with members of the London Councils’ Climate Unit to refine the long list of interventions within boroughs’ sphere of influence.
- Resident Engagement Sessions: Two, 3-hour workshops with 17 residents, evaluating the shortlisted interventions based on their relevance, equity considerations, potential barriers, and accessibility.
Both sessions provided valuable insights into the priorities and needs of individuals and groups across London and explored ways to ensure that the benefits of climate interventions are equitably distributed among residents.
Outcomes & Next Steps
- Disseminate the Findings: The research findings will be shared with London boroughs to support the integration of recommendations into future work.
- Targeting Measures: The research has identified a significant opportunity to proactively target interventions to support equity.
- Define Target Audience: There is an opportunity to define who the target groups are in relation to climate change equity.
- Embed Equity in Decision-Making: Ensuring equity is a key principle of climate change strategies could ensure vulnerable communities are effectively supported.
- Monitor and Evaluate Progress: There is an opportunity for the London boroughs to develop climate equity metrics and key progress indicators to evaluate the progress of targeted interventions.