Climate crisis debated in Balham

Climate impacts in the capital including dangerous heat, flooding and poor air quality will be highlighted at a Community Climate Talk in Balham. 

Scientist and activist Lucy Hogarth, 28, a PHD student from University College London, will give the main talk at St Mary and St John the Divine Church, Balham High Road, next Wednesday (July 20) at 7pm. 

She is one of a team of scientists touring 20 towns and cities this summer to talk about the climate crisis, share their knowledge, and help local communities respond to the issues. 

The event will also include personal stories of local people from Wandsworth who are taking action on the climate.   

Lucy, from Merton, who has addressed Extinction Rebellion gatherings, said: “I think flooding will be a key issue in London. There’s a lot of tributaries to the Thames that have been flooding more regularly. 

“Air pollution worsens as you increase the temperature, so I think that’s going to be a problem. There’s been a rise in London of people with asthma induced by poor air quality, and I think that will only increase with time. 

“Heat can also be worse in built-up areas, because large buildings act as a canopy and trap the heat, which is why it regularly feels hotter if you’re in London than other places. With our cities heating up, it is going to become pretty unbearable to use public transport.” 

She added: “There are also going to be problems related to access to food and food prices, which feels particularly important right now when people are struggling.” 

Lucy has been a climate activist for three years. She has given talks about the climate emergency across the capital and regularly speaks to people on the streets and at public events, carrying out surveys on climate change, and answering questions about climate science. 

She added: “The climate emergency is one of the worst possible problems because it’s not immediate. We’re evolved to deal with threats which are now, and those which we kind of don’t understand, or don’t know how to fit into our life, we tend to ignore. 

“Scientists tend to research the evidence. For people who aren’t scientists, narratives can help more than data. I’m not a huge fan of just throwing graphs at people anymore because I think everyone has seen the graphs.” 

People can also find out about upcoming events, which include an open top bus tour around South London, which sets off from Wandsworth Town Hall on Sunday, July 24, engaging with people about the climate crisis, air pollution and local transport cuts.  

Picture: Lucy Hogarth giving a talk on the streets of Central London (Picture: Lucy Hogarth)