Ealing is facing significant climate risks, including severe floods, heatwaves, and drought, according to a report presented at the Economy and Sustainability Scrutiny Panel on 1 July 2025.
The report, from the Climate Action & Sustainability Team, highlights that the impacts of climate change are already being felt across the borough, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations. Ealing is considered the 9th most 'socially vulnerable to high heat' borough in the country[1].
[1] The report states that In this context, the London Borough of Ealing was assessed by the University of Manchester to be the 9th most 'socially vulnerable to high heat' borough in the country due to our population profile and urban fabric.
However, the specific criteria used to define 'social vulnerability to high heat' are not detailed in the report.
The council is addressing these challenges through the Climate Adaptation and Resilience Programme, which prioritizes actions in deprived neighbourhoods and certain geographical areas, as these are impacted the most by climate risks. The program also aims to address social inequalities via its adult and community learning offer. Protective actions will be prioritised for vulnerable groups, including residents with health conditions and those in geographically exposed locations.
The programme builds on the existing work of the Emergency Management service, which works in collaboration with the Borough Resilience Forum, Ealing Severe Weather Forum, EHCVS, and communities to create better preparedness to extreme weather events.
The report includes GLA Climate Risk Mapping that highlights areas of Ealing with the most risk to climate impacts in red and least at risk in blue. It also includes GLA Mapping of socioeconomic deprivation in Ealing disaggregated at the LSOA level, with areas highlighted in dark blue indicating the greatest level of deprivation. The report states that these maps highlight areas where efforts to build climate resilience need to be prioritized.
The report notes that these risks are experienced differently across the borough, with deprived neighbourhoods and certain geographical areas being impacted the most. The council is working to support vulnerable communities who face both socio-economic challenges and the impacts of climate change.
Opportunities arising from climate adaptation and resilience include improved mental and physical wellbeing, more equitable access to quality green public spaces, strengthened awareness of climate adaptation and resilience, expansion of community-led initiatives, and new business opportunities linked to innovation in climate resilience.
The next steps for the programme include developing a Resilient Ealing Strategy to embed climate adaptation across the borough.
The panel also discussed preventative work and the economy, focusing on how the council is working to support vulnerable communities. The council's Regeneration, Economy & Skills department is responsible for the Council Plan strategic objective on 'creating good jobs', and is responsible for the development and delivery of Ealing's Jobs & Skills Strategy 2024-29.
Work Ealing and Learn Ealing services aim to support disadvantaged residents into sustainable employment, focusing on the prevent, reduce, delay (PDR) framework that is aligned with the council's Health & Well Being Strategy 2023 – 28.
Learn Ealing is the main provider of adult community education for the London Borough of Ealing, and achieved a 'GOOD' Ofsted grading. Learn Ealing works with partners including Ingeus, JCP, Ealing Soup Kitchen and West London College.
The report presented data on economic inactivity in Ealing, noting that 18.1% of Ealing's working age population is economically inactive, which is lower than the London and Great Britain averages. The report notes disparities between ethnic groups, with the Asian Ethnic Group experiencing the highest unemployment rate. To address these disparities, the department is supporting Ealing's Race Equality Commission, particularly to incentivise businesses with over 100 employees to take shared responsibility for reducing inequality by reporting on ethnicity pay gaps, setting measurable targets, and aligning with existing gender pay gap legislation.
The council will also enhance its PDR work through strategic investment in skills development, stronger employer-education partnerships, inclusive access and equity, local economic development, and data-driven planning and monitoring. This includes expanding access to training in growth sectors such as green technologies, health and social care, digital, and construction. It also includes embedding employability skills (e.g., communication, teamwork, problem-solving) into education and training using frameworks like Skills Builder and supporting lifelong learning through adult education, upskilling, and reskilling programs.
The report included a case study on Spark!, a charity working across west London to improve young people's employment prospects. Spark! works in partnership with schools and colleges, and alongside a range of employers, to enhance young people's employability skills and provide work experience opportunities.
The report also included a case study on a Temporary Accommodation Pilot, in partnership with the Housing Solutions department, to provide employment support to residents living in temporary accommodation at The Barn (Ruislip).