As part of our blog post series for London Climate Action Week, Jess Kennedy highlights the role that nature-based solutions can play in bolstering resilience.
As London confronts the escalating impacts of climate change – intensifying heatwaves, flash floods and biodiversity loss – our city’s resilience will hinge not only on technology or policy, but on how we integrate nature into the fabric of urban life.
There’s growing recognition that nature-based solutions are essential to climate resilience. From nature restoration to urban forests, these interventions deliver tangible benefits to our built environment. At Arup, we’ve modelled the effects of climate change on cities and the mitigating power of nature in response.
Our heat research has revealed how the effect is intensifying in cities around the world, including London. Using digital tools, we’ve identified rising temperatures and evaluated the role of nature in cooling urban areas. The evidence is clear: preserving and enhancing green and blue infrastructure can moderate heat and reduce its impacts on people and built infrastructure.
We’ve also deepened our understanding of nature’s role in managing flood risk. The natural infrastructure of our city – such as tree cover and soil composition – directly influences its ability to absorb rainfall and reduce flooding. For example, we have found that . Yet, by deploying nature-based solutions, we can boost this capacity and strengthen resilience against heavy rain and overflowing waterways.
These strategies are already being implemented in London. From that link parks and waterways, we are beginning to adopt a more holistic, systems-based approach to climate resilience that not only uses nature to improve our city but our health too.
We have known since the impactful role of nature on our physical wellbeing, and we are now cognizant of the physiological impact nature’s green and blue spaces have on our emotional and cognitive wellbeing too.
Which is perhaps why current regulations often focus on visible greening such as green roofs, living walls and tree planting. While these are important, they’re only part of the solution. We need planning frameworks that embed from the start at every scale – from individual buildings to entire neighbourhoods – and ensure long-term stewardship of green assets.
To overcome these barriers, we need a shift in mindset. From policymakers to community members, nature must not be seen as a cost, but as a critical asset – one that consistently delivers economic, social and environmental value. We also need:
- Better coordination across developments and boroughs to create connected, resilient green networks.
- Support for innovation, including digital tools and materials that make nature-based solutions scalable and cost-effective.
- Community engagement to build public understanding and ownership of green infrastructure.
We can lead the way in climate resilience by working with nature to support our future. Let’s seize it – not just for the sake of our planet but for the health, safety and wellbeing of every Londoner