Adaption and resilience

Climate adaptation is the process, or outcome of a process, that leads to a reduction in harm or risk of harm, or realisation of benefits associated with climate variability and climate change.

Climate resilience is the ability of a system to recover from the effects of climate change. Improving adaptation can lead to greater resilience of communities and ecosystems to climate change.

Become a Tree Warden

The Wandsworth Tree Wardens are a local non profit organisation that monitors, protects and plants trees in the borough.

Keep your garden green

While paving over your garden or using astroturf may seem appealing for aesthetic and maintenance reasons, it increases the risk of flooding, especially in areas where flooding is already prevalent.

Removing grass and plants also contributes to urban heating, as hard surfaces and astroturf absorb more heat than natural vegetation. Trees can help mitigate this, potentially reducing temperatures by up to 12°C in some urban areas during summer.

Consider creative green greening opportunities, such as green roofs on sheds and garden rooms. This not only helps with flooding and overheating but also provides valuable space for nature.

Install a water butt

If you have outdoor space, installing a water butt is a simple and effective way to save water and reduce surface water flooding.

Water butts connect to your drainpipe and store rainwater from your roof. This prevents excess water from entering drains and sewers, easing pressure on the system and helping to reduce the risk of flooding.

Take care during extreme weather

The elderly and children are particularly vulnerable to extreme temperatures. Make sure you check on your vulnerable family members, friends, and neighbours during extreme temperature events.

View a map of cool spaces in London.

Find out about Community Spaces that offer residents warm, friendly places to engage with others and share a hot meal.

Make your home more energy efficient

Making energy efficiency improvements can help your home maintain consistent temperatures, making it more resilient against temperature extremes.

We offer Warm Homes Packs to eligible residents. These free packs can help households reduce energy bills by up to £200 a year and make homes more comfortable during the colder months. They include easy to implement measures like energy efficient light bulbs and radiator reflectors.

We work with the Cost of Living team to inform residents about energy efficiency measures they can also reduce energy bills.

Find out more about Warm Home Packs.

Understand your risk

Use the climate risk map to understand potential climate-related risks that may affect your home.