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TfL Unveils 70-Action Plan to Make London’s Transport Network Greener and More Climate-Resilient
14 Sept 2026
Transport for London’s updated Corporate Environment Plan expands work on zero-emission buses, solar power, flood resilience, biodiversity and EV charging as the capital prepares its transport system for a changing climate.
Transport for London (TfL) has unveiled an updated Corporate Environment Plan setting out more than 70 actions to reduce emissions, improve air quality and make one of the world’s largest integrated transport networks more resilient to climate change.
The plan builds on TfL’s first environmental strategy published in 2021 and reflects the growing pressure cities face from extreme weather, energy transition and the need to decarbonise public infrastructure. For London, where millions of journeys depend on public transport every day, climate resilience is increasingly becoming part of the basic requirement for keeping the city moving.
TfL’s strategy covers everything from flood protection and renewable electricity to zero-emission vehicles and urban biodiversity, linking environmental performance directly with the long-term reliability of the capital’s transport system.
More Than 70 Actions Across London’s Transport Network
The updated plan covers both long-term strategic ambitions and more immediate infrastructure improvements.
TfL says it will further embed circular-economy principles into procurement and project delivery while continuing practical measures such as replacing more lighting across the London Underground with energy-efficient LEDs.
The authority has already made significant progress in several areas. More than 3,000 buses now operate as part of what TfL describes as the largest zero-emission bus fleet in Western Europe, while the organisation has also established a private-wire electricity scheme designed to supply parts of the transport network directly from new solar installations.
The wider objective is not simply to reduce TfL’s own footprint. By making public transport, walking and cycling more attractive, the authority also hopes to reduce the environmental impact of travel across the city as a whole.
Flood Resilience Becomes a Transport Priority
Climate adaptation is one of the strongest themes in the new plan.
TfL intends to add at least 10,000 square metres of Sustainable Drainage Systems every year until 2035. These systems are designed to slow rainwater before it enters drainage networks and waterways, reducing the risk of flooding during periods of intense rainfall.
The A23 Streatham Hill improvement programme alone is expected to create approximately 17,000 square metres of SuDS catchment, alongside improvements intended to make walking and cycling safer and more comfortable.
Transport resilience is becoming increasingly important as urban infrastructure is exposed to heavier rainfall, hotter summers and other forms of extreme weather. For a city as dependent on interconnected rail, Underground, bus and road networks as London, disruption in one part of the system can quickly affect businesses, commuters and public services elsewhere.
TfL Plans More Green Infrastructure
The environmental plan also places greater emphasis on biodiversity.
TfL intends to maintain around 520,000 square metres of wildflower verges across its estate, while protecting waterways and expanding green infrastructure that can provide shade, habitat and benefits for public health.
This reflects a broader change in how transport land is viewed.
Rail corridors, roadside verges, stations and other transport assets occupy substantial amounts of urban space. Rather than treating those areas purely as operational infrastructure, cities can increasingly use them to support biodiversity, drainage and climate adaptation at the same time.
Solar Power Will Connect Directly to the Underground
Energy is another major component of the strategy.
TfL plans additional solar installations that will connect directly into the Underground, alongside renewable-energy contracts supplied through the National Grid. The aim is both to reduce carbon emissions and improve long-term energy security.
This follows TfL’s development of one of the first private-wire arrangements for a major urban transport network.
Direct access to renewable electricity could become increasingly important as transport systems electrify more of their operations. Rail, electric buses, stations and charging infrastructure all create growing demand for dependable electricity, making energy procurement an increasingly strategic part of urban mobility.
Zero-Emission Transport Expands Beyond Buses
TfL also plans to continue transitioning its wider vehicle fleet toward zero emissions.
More than a third of London’s buses are already zero-emission at the tailpipe, and the updated strategy calls for further expansion as the capital works toward its wider net-zero ambitions.
Electric-vehicle infrastructure will also grow.
TfL is working with charging operators Zest and TotalEnergies on new rapid and ultra-rapid charging bays. Meanwhile, its property subsidiary Places for London has partnered with Fastned to develop additional ultra-rapid charging hubs.
These projects show how the role of a transport authority is expanding beyond running trains and buses. Increasingly, urban mobility agencies are also becoming involved in energy systems, charging infrastructure and wider decarbonisation.
Climate Resilience Is Becoming Part of Everyday Mobility
Lilli Matson, TfL’s Chief Safety, Health and Environment Officer, said climate impacts are becoming increasingly visible and require faster action across both the city and its transport network.
“We know that our city needs to be more sustainable and climate-resilient to continue being a fantastic place to live, work and travel,” she said.
That connection between climate policy and everyday mobility is increasingly important.
Transport networks cannot be considered sustainable purely because they offer lower-carbon alternatives to private cars. They must also remain operational during flooding, heatwaves and other climate stresses.
The next generation of Piccadilly line trains, for example, will be air-conditioned and more energy efficient, combining passenger comfort with lower energy consumption.
London’s Transport Network Becomes Part of Its Climate Infrastructure
TfL’s updated strategy illustrates how closely transport planning and climate policy are becoming connected.
A resilient transport network supports far more than mobility. It affects access to jobs, healthcare, education, tourism and the wider functioning of the urban economy.
For London, one of the world’s largest and most internationally connected cities, the challenge is therefore to reduce transport emissions while simultaneously adapting infrastructure that was often built long before current climate risks were understood.
The new plan moves those priorities into the same framework.
Solar power, zero-emission buses, drainage systems and wildflower verges may appear to address very different problems, but together they reflect a broader idea: future urban transport systems will need to be low-carbon, reliable and climate-adaptive at the same time.
About Transport for London
Transport for London is the integrated transport authority responsible for much of the capital’s public transport and strategic road network, including the London Underground, buses, major roads and other mobility services.
As one of London’s largest landowners, TfL also has a significant role in the capital’s environmental, infrastructure and development strategy. Its 2026 Corporate Environment Plan sets out more than 70 actions covering emissions reduction, climate resilience, biodiversity and sustainable resource use.
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Sara Srifi
Sara is a Software Engineering and Business student with a passion for astronomy, cultural studies, and human-centered storytelling. She explores the quiet intersections between science, identity, and imagination, reflecting on how space, art, and society shape the way we understand ourselves and the world around us. Her writing draws on curiosity and lived experience to bridge disciplines and spark dialogue across cultures.
