Hackney London Borough Council

10/17/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/17/2024 07:33

Nine recommendations to help Hackney prepare for extreme heat

Hackney,
17
October
2024
|
14:24
Europe/London

Nine recommendations to help Hackney prepare for extreme heat

A series of nine recommendations, made by local people, to help the borough prepare for the impact of climate change are being taken forward by Hackney Council and partners, including Homerton Hospital.

Earlier this year, the Council commissioned its first ever Citizens' Climate Jury as a way to hear residents' views and work together to prepare for the impact of extreme heat.

The jury of 15 local people, who were selected by lottery to be reflective of the borough's population, came together to explore how Hackney should prepare for and respond to very hot weather in a way that protects those most vulnerable.

After discussion and deliberation over the course of four sessions, the jury agreed on nine recommendations, including four short term priorities and five longer term actions, for the council to consider and respond.

Now, the Council and partners are committing to progress the jury's recommendations as part of their broader mission to make Hackney a greener, healthier borough which is resilient to the impacts of climate change.

Practical measures that the Council and partners are committing to implement, develop or expand include:

  • Developing a new communications approach tailored to, and targeted towards, those who are most vulnerable to the impact of extreme heat
  • Opening, mapping and promoting cool spaces, such as council buildings, libraries and shaded areas, to provide respite
  • Working with faith groups and the voluntary sector to expand welfare checks and support for people who are rough sleepers during heat waves
  • Increasing Hackney's street tree canopy coverage - the percentage of an area covered by the crown/branches of a tree - within areas most in need
  • Improving green spaces at Homerton Hospital and the allocation of appointment times to meet people's needs
  • Incentivising companies to exceed building regulations to raise environmental standards/ improve materials and insulation
  • Developing an Urban Forest Plan to protect, manage and increase tree canopy.
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Our first ever citizens' jury has proved an exciting new way to put residents' views at the heart of our response to extreme heat and climate change. By understanding the lived experiences of Hackney residents and utilising local knowledge, we can prepare for the impacts of the climate crisis in a way that better meets our communities' needs.

We know that extreme heat is one of the ways that Hackney will be most impacted as our climate changes, and that this affects people differently and unequally. That's why we are so determined to take forward the jury's recommendations to help us prepare and protect those who are most vulnerable.

Caroline Woodley, Mayor of Hackney
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To read the jury's recommendations and Council responses in full, visit: https://hackney.gov.uk/greener#listening