City Profile

London, the capital city of England and the United Kingdom, is a prominent global financial hub with a GDP of approximately US$660 Billion. With a population exceeding 9 million, it hosts the headquarters of over half of the UK’s top 100 listed companies and more than 100 of Europe’s 500 largest. London's economy is highly diversified with strengths in finance, creative industries, and professional services.

London excels in Investor Attractiveness and Assets, reflecting its enduring appeal as a global financial hub with advanced infrastructure. The city's financial markets are complemented by a rich innovation ecosystem, supported by world class institutions and a thriving tech sector in areas such as Fintech and AI.

London's commitment to sustainable development is evident in its extensive public transport network and through initiatives like the Ultra Low Emission Zone, which aim to reduce air pollution and promote green energy usage.

However, London scores moderately in Urban Management and Liveability. The city's high cost of living and the complexities of urban planning in such a densely populated area contribute to these challenges. The highly urbanised city has also faced unprecedented rise in temperatures, signalling that climate induced impact is posing a threat to society and the economy.

Case study

In 2022, the UK government issued a national emergency in response to unprecedented temperature spikes, hitting a record 40.3°C in England for the first time. Millions of people are increasingly suffering from frequent heatwaves and the design of cities is intensifying the problem - with the most vulnerable often the worst impacted. Arup's new digital solution- UHeat- reveals an ‘Urban Heat Snapshot’ on how the urban heat island (UHI) effect is pushing up temperatures in cities like London, Madrid, Mumbai and Los Angeles.
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