Sustainability in london

Question 1

What is some of London’s main environmental issues?

Answer 1

-In first half of the 20th century smog events were strongly linked to London. Nitrogen dioxide levels breach EU legal limit.

Question 2

What are the impacts of the environmental conditions?

Answer 2

• 5.3% of people aged under 25 die from causes linked to air pollution. Highest in Chelsea and Kensington where it is 8.3%.
• Linked to air quality is urban heat island effect. Centre of London is around 10 degrees warmer the surrounding rural areas. Summer heat waves pose a threat to homes, workplaces and public transport. they have negative effect on health and lead to increase in energy and water consumption.

Question 3

What is one of the concerns linked to the physical environment?

Answer 3

• The threat is flooding, which comes from 5 sources; Tidal, fluvial(rivers and tributaries), surface, sewer and ground water flooding.
• Climate change will bring wetter winters as well as rising sea levels which poses a huge risk to London as 15% is built on a flood plain.
• It includes residential area and infrastructure londoners rely on daily. 49 railway stations, 75 underground stations and 10 hospitals.

Question 4

What are some of the methods to mitigate and prevent these issues?

Answer 4

• Congestion charged introduced in 2003
• More green transport policies such as hybrid buses, 8 hydrogen fueled buses, 1400 charge points and 0 emission taxis
• Boris bikes helped increase cycling by 173%
• In response to heat island effect targets for a 5% increase in green cover have been made.

Question 5

What are the main causes of the Urban heat island effect?

Answer 5

• Absorption of heat by urban surfaces eg concrete and tarmac surfaces which absorb and store heat from the sun during the day and release during night.
• Air pollution; increases cloud cover and acts as a pollution dome reflecting heat back to surface.
• Heat from human activity; cars, factories and central heating.
• Less evapo-transportation; water removed quickly from drains so no evaporation and small amounts of transpiration. Evapo-transpiration uses energy so less means higher temperature.