Tech Innovation to Empower London
Commentary on Sadiq Khan's latest ‘Climate Resilience Review’
What are the coolest boroughs of London?
In my biased opinion, while Camden and Shoreditch were once the places to be, they’ve become victims of gentrification, allowing Peckham to take the crown for being the coolest London Borough.
Living in London is akin to having a golden ticket to a vast playground of choices. Yet, let's not forget that not everyone holds that ticket. The privilege of selecting your residence within this vibrant city is a reality that eludes many. It's a game of location, where the neighbourhood you call home can shape your experiences, opportunities, and even how others perceive you. While some frolic in the trendy pockets of London, others find themselves on the outskirts, longing for a chance to be woven into the rich fabric of urban life. The ability to choose where to live is a privilege; for those facing physical dangers rather than reputation risks, it becomes a matter of social justice.
As the mercury rises, the concept of ‘coolness’ is experiencing a transformative shift back to its original meaning. No longer a fixation on trends and social status, it now encompasses literal temperature relief. Finding respite in cool areas, seeking shade under trees, or enjoying bodies of water, has become a quest for survival in the scorching heat. The heatwave-prone world we inhabit has made staying cool a matter of both comfort and well-being.
The London Climate Resilience Review
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has commissioned an independent review called the ‘London Climate Resilience Review’ to assess London's preparedness to deal with the “potentially devastating impacts of the climate emergency”. This review was announced during London Tech Week, with the aim to emphasise the role technology plays in addressing the climate crisis.
Khan is correct in highlighting London´s vulnerability to climate change, as evidenced by the wildfires, flash floods, and school closures that have been seen in recent years. Sadiq Khan has also got to the heart of what Shade the UK´s mission is. He stressed that climate change is a social justice issue, and the effects of climate change disproportionately affect the vulnerable. This implies that the review will seek to protect the most vulnerable people from the effects of climate change.
As Sadiq Khan nears the end of his term as London Mayor, his focus on tackling air quality and enhancing climate resilience emerges as his vision for London's future. Recognising the interconnectedness of air quality and temperature, Khan aims to leave a lasting legacy by implementing robust policies, green initiatives, and sustainable infrastructure to protect the health and well-being of Londoners and safeguard the city against climate change impacts.
Following STUKs mission to protect vulnerable communities from overheating, it is important that this review prioritises assessing vulnerable communities and promoting emission-friendly climate solutions in the form of passive cooling technologies and green infrastructure. Here is how London can leverage technology to better protect its most vulnerable from extreme heat and ensure that the cool areas of London don’t go the way of the gentrified ‘cool’ areas of London that have priced out the least mobile.
The current AI revolution, as described by Stephen Fry, is both Prometheus’s fire and Pandora´s box. It is already changing the world and giving individuals more freedom, but with that comes a whole lot of issues. What happens when the role of the assistant becomes the role of the AI? The first people to have their jobs usurped by robots are the closest to the poverty line and are the most vulnerable. Throughout this tech revolution, we need to ensure that people’s livelihoods are safeguarded. If we do not insist that AI works for us, then it will work for its creators: capitalism. Here is how Data and AI can help us assess the vulnerable and find solutions to the impacts of climate change.
Tech’s role in addressing the climate crisis
Technology is allowing for ever more precise and vast data collection. The data which can be collected includes, temperature variations, aquifer levels, soil health, etc. Sensors and monitoring systems can provide real-time data and warnings for extreme weather events. The UK Government has utilised such a system with ´GeoSmart's Groundwater Flood Forecasting service´ which uses open data and modelling to predict floods up to 10 days in advance. This technology could be used for other extreme weather events such as heat waves, with AI helping both forecast the effects of climate change and devise solutions to them. AI can, according to a new paper from the Alan Turing Institute, monitor the environment, forecast environmental change, simulate the human cost of climate change, and adapt to climate change. In a particularly STUK-approved project, AI is being used to model the health impacts of extreme heat on an individual level.
The combination of data and AI can create highly advanced climate models. In London, climate change scenarios can be assessed for their impact on the economy, people, and various sectors such as transportation, water management and healthcare. Infrastructure is affected by extreme heat and these models can help urban planners identify solutions that will minimise the risks.
However, to tunnel vision on technology when searching for climate change solutions is unwise. Many view technology as the climate solution, but it is a solution born of itself; this technocentric approach can ignore perfectly effective solutions which do not provide profit. Arguably, technological solutions are prioritised because they are profit-maximising; thus, they can be undemocratic, unasked for, and unneeded. Alternatively, passive technologies such as external shutters, blinds, awnings, louvres, and green infrastructure should equally be included in the conversation. These are readily available solutions that are proven to reduce the risks of overheating and can give autonomy to vulnerable communities.
Green Infrastructure is a passive solution. Greening our cities reduces the urban heat island effect through the process of evapotranspiration. Khan’s review would benefit from the consideration of green infrastructure and ensure it does not further divide the mobile from the vulnerable as it has done in the past. A study by the University of Manchester and Friends of the Earth found that people of colour are four times more likely to live in areas at high risk from heat waves. This is an example of the uneven distribution of health and well-being, and climate change is worsening this gap between the privileged and the vulnerable. Central Park in New York is also touted as a miracle, that it survived the development of the city. But this ignores historical marginalisation at the core of its implementation. The site that is now Central Park was a majority-black neighbourhood and the residents that fought to remain there were forced out. The strategic planning of the built environment to include a whole host of natural environments is thus not immune to the segregation of minority and vulnerable communities.
There is a place for technological solutions if they are equitable and scalable. Khan commissioned ARUP to produce a report on the benefits of retrofitting roofs with solar or reflective panels. These modifications would aid in reducing the urban heat island effect and the demand for air conditioning. ARUP recommends prioritising cool roofs in the riskiest areas with the greatest heat exposure, which would help protect the most vulnerable. Vulnerable groups include those with disabilities and health conditions, and those in care homes, schools, and social housing.
Smart Infrastructure is another new tech solution. Just as with smart meters in homes, smart technology can help us manage our energy consumption to reduce our emissions, water use, and increase our transportation efficiency. This integration of urban planning and technology will create more climate-resilient cities and more climate-friendly cities. For example, using Internet of Things (IoT) devices and sensors, London can create a network of interconnected systems to monitor and manage the city’s emissions. Again, these solutions must become financially accessible to vulnerable communities.
Inequality has been a powerful force shaping our cities, leaving its imprint everywhere we look. Examples abound, such as gated parks in Central London, represent a form of segregation in our green spaces. Adapting our built and natural environments to address climate change risks exacerbating segregation, class divisions, and health disparities if left unaddressed. However, by raising awareness, analysing data, and prioritising health over profit, we can avert these negative outcomes. The Mayor of London's commendable initiative, coupled with the utilisation of London's tech industry, enables collaborative, innovative, and scalable solutions.
The ultimate goal is to create a London where every borough becomes a cool place to live, not only in terms of trendy appeal, but also in terms of equality, opportunity, and well-being for all. By addressing the challenges of climate change, segregation, and health disparities, we can collectively embrace both definitions of ‘cool’ and pave the way for a more inclusive, sustainable, and vibrant city that benefits all. 😎
Written by Ilya Welsh
