From 3am, London is at risk of severe flash floods. Intense downpours could see up to 50mm of rainfall arrive in the space of just a few hours - almost the total average rainfall for August. Don’t be caught out - check your insurance covers flooding and see what more you can do: bit.ly/4y0Zxkn

Air pollution was holding too many children back. New research shows that after the ULEZ was introduced in Central London, the share of children with clinically impaired lung function fell from 14% to 9%. Cleaner air means healthier lungs and healthier futures.

Children's stunted lungs show recovery in ultra low emission zone

Children's lung capacity caught up with their peers in less polluted areas once a clean air zone came in, a study shows.

bbc.co.uk

Hotter summers are becoming London's new normal🌡️ As temperatures rise so will the demand for cooling in our homes, communities & streets But extreme heat isn't just a climate issue, it's a social & environmental justice issue How do we keep London cool, fairly & sustainably? 👇

FACT: the risk of flash flooding increases when the ground's been scorched by extreme heat. And we know something about that in London: five heatwaves, record temperatures, wildfires... We can't go on like this. Global leaders must heed these calls.

If we don’t act, the climate crisis could cost London up to £36bn a year by the 2050s. After another summer of record-breaking heat, now is the time to adapt homes, neighbourhoods and infrastructure to be ready for a hotter future.

Running around with your friends shouldn't leave you struggling for breath. But for too many of London’s children, polluted air was harming their health. Experts said it would take nearly 200 years to reach legal air quality limits. We did it in nine.

What ULEZ has done for children’s lungs should silence its loudest critics | LBC

Ulez's success must be a call to action to carry on in our efforts to improve the air in the UK, writes London mum and clean air campaigner Ruth.

lbc.co.uk

£36 billion a year. That astronomical sum is how much the climate crisis could cost London by the 2050s if we fail to act. In June I set out London’s first city-wide plan for protecting Londoners and preparing for a hotter future. Our city is relying on us to act now.

Climate Change to Cost London Up to £36 Billion a Year by 2050s

Climate change could cost London as much as £36 billion ($50 billion) a year by the 2050s, the Mayor of London’s office said in a report.

bloomberg.com

The toxic air our children were breathing was stunting their lungs. For too many young Londoners, that was the reality before the ULEZ. New independent findings show their lung health has improved significantly in Central London. That’s the difference cleaner air can make.

Introducing Ulez was my hardest decision as mayor of London – but now we know its astonishing impact | Sadiq Khan

Critics said I was attacking motorists. It’s more important for me that the city’s children are no longer breathing dangerous levels of pollution, says London mayor Sadiq Khan

theguardian.com

Weeks of dry weather can make flooding more likely, not less. When heavy rain falls on hard, baked ground, water runs off much more quickly, increasing the risk of flash flooding. Take a moment to check you're prepared:

Bold action on air pollution works. Take London’s example. After the ULEZ was introduced, new research shows that children’s lung function improved in Central London, catching up to levels outside London.

For years, London's children’s lungs lagged behind. Now they’re catching up. A major new study shows the ULEZ cut exposure to toxic NO₂ and reduced impaired lung function from 14% to 9%.

Introducing Ulez was my hardest decision as mayor of London – but now we know its astonishing impact | Sadiq Khan

Critics said I was attacking motorists. It’s more important for me that the city’s children are no longer breathing dangerous levels of pollution, says London mayor Sadiq Khan

theguardian.com

Some outcomes are bigger than politics.

An independent study from @qmul.bsky.social found that after the ULEZ was introduced, children’s lungs grew faster in central London and have now caught up with children outside the capital. The decisions to tackle toxic air weren’t always easy but London is showing that bold action works.

This stopped me in my tracks. An independent study by @qmul.bsky.social has found that after ULEZ was introduced, children’s lungs grew faster in Central London and have now caught up with children outside of the capital. Incredible.

Queen Mary University of London@qmul.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Air pollution stunts children’s lung growth. New Queen Mary research found that improvements in air quality after the introduction of London’s ULEZ are associated with accelerated lung growth in children. Read more: shorturl.at/Jx86o

A few cooler days won't undo weeks of dry conditions. The threat of wildfires remains high. Dry ground and careless behaviour can quickly lead to a fire. Please act responsibly and report any suspected arson to the police.

Grass and Wildfires

Wildfires can be devastating. Find out how to prevent them, and what to do if you spot one.

london-fire.gov.uk

The sunshine may make London’s rivers and waterways look inviting, but many are not safe for swimming. Strong currents, cold water and hidden hazards can put you at serious risk. See LFB’s water safety advice:

Water Safety

Here's our advice on survival and rescue, keeping your children safe, and winter water safety. You'll also find information on our water safety campaigns and projects.

london-fire.gov.uk

The coolest technology in a heatwave? Trees. Every tree planted today helps create a cooler, greener and healthier London tomorrow. We've already planted more than 640,000 trees since 2016, and we're continuing to grow and protect our urban forest to help London adapt to hotter summers.

London is usually one of the greenest cities in the world - right now, our green spaces are yellow and tinderbox dry.

London Fire Brigade received over 1,000 emergency calls in one day last week. Our hardworking emergency services are under huge strain due to this summer’s extreme heat.

Got plans for results day? Keep them safe. If you're cooling off after getting your A Level results, only swim in designated swimming spots. Most of London's rivers, canals and lakes don't have lifeguards. Share LFB's water safety advice:

Water Safety

Here's our advice on survival and rescue, keeping your children safe, and winter water safety. You'll also find information on our water safety campaigns and projects.

london-fire.gov.uk

Feeling the heat? This week, London is facing its fifth heatwave of the year. Our Cool Spaces map shows indoor places where you can cool down and take a break from the heat. Find your nearest space:

Extreme heat isn't a summer inconvenience. It's a growing public safety challenge driven by the climate crisis, threatening lives, disrupting businesses and putting our economy at risk. I strongly welcome the PM convening COBR today. Government must act as one to protect people and communities.

UK heatwaves may have cost economy £4.4bn in lost output so far this year, analysis finds

Verdant thinktank says cost could top £25bn a year by 2030 and calls for maximum temperature for working and urban redesign to cool down cities

theguardian.com

It's now been confirmed that this summer will be the hottest on record. For those opposing bold action on the climate crisis - you're not just putting lives and the planet at risk today, but dooming future generations.

This burning summer is the proof: the voices of climate denial aren’t just delusional, they’re deadly | Sadiq Khan

Look at our blazing forests and parched cities. Green policies aren’t a ‘luxury’, and we can’t burn more oil and gas. People need the truth, says London mayor Sadiq Khan

theguardian.com

A few simple water safety skills could save a young Londoner’s life. Knowing how to spot danger, stay afloat and signal for help is vital. This summer, we’re funding free swim safety sessions - part of our plan to make London's waterways safer and more accessible for everyone.

SwimSafe Water Safety Sessions

SwimSafe returns to the Royal Docks for its third year, offering free sessions for children aged 7–14 to build confidence in open water and learn essential water safety skills.

royaldocks.london

🟠 An Amber Heat-Health Alert is now in place until 9am on Friday 14 August. Drink plenty of water, avoid the hottest part of the day where possible and check in on those who might struggle to keep cool - those with health conditions, older people, young children and babies.

How to keep cool and stay well during hot weather

During the summer, many of us enjoy the longer days, warmer evenings, and time outdoors. But warmer weather also brings real risks to health, especially when temperatures climb higher than usual.

ukhsa.blog.gov.uk

What an unbeavable sight. 🦫 London's greatest little engineers are helping to stop floods across the capital.

Not all city heroes wear capes. Some have roots. We're planting up to 5,000 more climate-resilient trees and strengthening London's canopy cover to help keep our city greener, cooler and healthier for the years ahead.

Most Londoners pass a river, brook or canal without thinking much about it. But what if it was cleaner? Greener? Easier to access? Better for wildlife? That's exactly what we're working towards across ten waterways in London.

Looking for somewhere to cool off? Think twice before jumping into open water. The summer holidays should be about making memories, not emergencies. Take care around rivers, docks and lakes, and follow water safety advice from the London Fire Brigade.

Water Safety

Here's our advice on survival and rescue, keeping your children safe, and winter water safety. You'll also find information on our water safety campaigns and projects.

london-fire.gov.uk

Climate denial is getting louder. Reality is getting harder to ignore. When parks are brown, rivers are shrinking and firefighters are battling blazes across the globe, governments must accelerate climate action, not slow it down.

This burning summer is the proof: the voices of climate denial aren’t just delusional, they’re deadly | Sadiq Khan

Look at our blazing forests and parched cities. Green policies aren’t a ‘luxury’, and we can’t burn more oil and gas. People need the truth, says London mayor Sadiq Khan

theguardian.com