Monday, June 2, 2025
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Terms & Conditions
Environmental Magazine
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Recycling
  • Air
  • Fossil Fuels
  • Water
No Result
View All Result
Environmental Magazine
  • Home
  • News
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Recycling
  • Air
  • Fossil Fuels
  • Water
No Result
View All Result
Environmental Magazine
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Call to make London a ‘sponge city’

June 19, 2024
in News
A A

London will need to urgently become a ‘sponge city’ – a city better designed to absorb and hold rainwater – in order to ward off the negative impacts of the climate emergency, the organisers of London Rivers Week have urged.

The climate emergency has increased the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events and governments, businesses and communities must protect London’s rivers in order for them to be better prepared to tackle the impacts of droughts and floods brought on by the climate crisis.

The organisers* of the London Rivers Week festival, which takes place this Saturday 22nd June to Sunday 30th June, are urging policymakers, water companies, businesses, industry, environmental charities and the public to work together on making the city ‘sponge like’. The festival celebrates London’s rivers and has a packed programme of walks, talks and online seminars for everyone to get involved in.

Environmental charity Thames21, one of the lead coordinators of London Rivers Week, is already working with partners and volunteers to make London a sponge city. It has created wetlands, planted trees and supported sustainable drainage systems across London to help improve biodiversity and capture rainwater to reduce flood risks.

For instance, its ‘Rewilding the Rom’ project in Dagenham has seen the development of a wetland that connected the River Rom to its floodplain and turned this river into a healthy environment for wildlife.

Chris Coode, CEO at Thames21, said: “London has lost many of its green spaces to urban development and we urgently need more nature-based solutions such as wetlands to help tackle the impact of the climate emergency. Wetlands absorb excess rainfall, slow down water flow to rivers and reduce the risk of flooding to homes.

“These green spaces are essential for managing surface water and creating environments where water is naturally controlled.

“Spending time by the river has proven benefits for people’s health and well-being. This is a key theme of this year’s London Rivers Week, now in its eight year. By transforming London into a sponge city we enhance our rivers’ resilience to climate change and ensure that we can all benefit from our precious rivers.”

Anna Taylor, director at CPRE London, added: “We are keen to highlight the urgent need for more rain gardens across the capital to reduce road-run off, ease the pressure on storm water drains, and help to reduce the risk of sewage overflow into our rivers. There is an absolutely urgent need for action in this area!  Sustainable urban drainage assessments should be bog standard when roadworks and streetscapes are being updated.”

Joe Pecorelli, ZSL’s Freshwater Conservation Programme Manager, said: “Protecting spaces for nature in London doesn’t just make the city a more enjoyable space – it’s key to creating a better, more sustainable future for everyone living here. From decision-makers to the general public, we need everyone to be involved in building a more resilient London, and attending walks and talks, or even donning a pair of waders to get stuck in with a clean-up, is a great place for people to get started.”

ShareTweetSharePinSendShare

Related Articles

News

Breakthrough geopolymer turns recycled glass and construction waste into a high-performance cement replacement

June 2, 2025
News

Thames Water receives £122.7m fine in reported sewage spills crackdown

May 28, 2025
News

Net zero report sets out path to cut carbon and costs for small firms

May 28, 2025
News

Scotland can reach Net Zero by 2045 but needs to step up the pace, says CCC

May 27, 2025
News

1.5°C Paris target too high for polar ice sheets, says new study

May 20, 2025
News

Traffic noise: Time to get serious?

May 20, 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recommended

Climate crisis is causing birds to lay eggs earlier

March 30, 2022

Lack of political consensus could harm the government’s net zero targets, Labour MP warns Net Zero Festival delegates

October 24, 2024

Don't miss it

Energy

Trump’s Budget Wish Could Threaten Billions in Clean Energy Investment in Virginia

June 2, 2025
Fossil Fuels

The Massive Pipeline Buildout in the U.S. Is Mostly for Gas Going Overseas

June 2, 2025
Energy

Gila River Tribes Intend to Float Solar Panels on a Reservoir. Could the Technology Help the Colorado River?

June 1, 2025
Fossil Fuels

U.S. Steel Is a Major Source of Pollution in Pennsylvania. Will Its Sale Lock in Emissions for Another Generation?

May 30, 2025
Activism

Trump Executive Orders Violate Young People’s Rights to a Stable Climate, a Lawsuit Alleges

May 30, 2025
Fossil Fuels

Supreme Court Backs a Controversial Railroad in Utah for Carrying Oil

May 29, 2025
Environmental Magazine

Environmental Magazine, Latest News, Opinions, Analysis Environmental Magazine. Follow us for more news about Enviroment and climate change from all around the world.

Learn more

Sections

  • Activism
  • Air
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Fossil Fuels
  • News
  • Uncategorized
  • Water

Topics

Activism Air Climate Change Energy Fossil Fuels News Uncategorized Water

Recent News

Trump’s Budget Wish Could Threaten Billions in Clean Energy Investment in Virginia

June 2, 2025

The Massive Pipeline Buildout in the U.S. Is Mostly for Gas Going Overseas

June 2, 2025

© 2023 Environmental Magazine. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Recycling
  • Air
  • Fossil Fuels
  • Water

© 2023 Environmental Magazine. All rights reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.