image for illustration: London by Kleon3 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
A Young Foundation report draws on extensive participatory research with Londoners from across the city to find widespread barriers to retrofit participation, including affordability concerns, distrust in providers, and lack of accessible information.
The Young Foundation writes:
… Despite strong public motivation for change, with 89% of Londoners wanting climate action, retrofitting in London is occurring at just one-tenth of the pace required…
… Commissioned by the London Sustainable Development Commission (LSDC), ‘A just transition in London’s retrofits’ highlights the urgent action need to make energy-efficiency improvements to nearly 53% of London’s homes by 2030 — a crucial step in cutting the city’s residential CO? emissions, as it is estimated that housing stock currently accounts for 32% of its total. The report warns that current retrofit initiatives risk excluding the very communities most affected by poor housing, including older adults, disabled people, ethnic minority groups, and low-income renters…
The accompanying toolkit is aimed at supporting the engagement of households in their journey to retrofit – particularly people with experience of protected characteristics relating to age, disability, ethnicity and gender…
