London

London has been called “the world in one city,” and with the summer 2012 Olympic Games, that has never been truer.

Today, more than 7 million people live in London proper, with 12.5 million in the Greater London metropolitan area. Often called the world’s financial center, London is a culturally diverse and multiethnic metropolis — the largest city in Europe.

According to London’s own climate change preparedness plan, the city is vulnerable to flooding from the North Sea, the Thames River and heavy rainfall. The risk of flooding increases as sea level rises, tidal surges in the North Sea increase in height, and winter rainfall increases in volume and intensity. Peak river levels of the Thames and its tributaries are projected to rise by nearly a third in less than a decade — putting more than 1 million people and nearly half a million properties at risk.

Ironically, London is also considered to be one of the driest capital cities in the world. Its large population and low rainfall mean that the region actually has less water per person than many hotter, more arid countries. While climate change will likely bring heavier rainstorms to London, the total amount of rainfall in a year will also decrease, increasing the probability of drought during summer months.

Presented by Evan Williams

Evan is an environmental economist and consultant who lives in Paisley, a town near Glasgow, Scotland. He previously worked for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, where he was Head of Economics and Sustainable Development. In 2008, he started his own environmental consulting firm, Environmental and Resource Economics, and has partnered with the Prince of Wales for the Princess Rainforest Project.

To learn more about this presenter, click here.