How Rivers Fight Climate Change & The Power of Blue Spaces
We’re five months into 2025, a year that has repeatedly scored extremely high temperatures. According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, January was the warmest January globally, with temperatures 1.75°C above the pre-industrial level. February and March 2025 followed the same pattern: February was the third warmest February, and March the second warmest March, both on a global level. Closer to home, the UK has just experienced the warmest April in seven years.
In times of unusual hot weather, our rivers and blue spaces become havens to refresh and enjoy cooler temperatures. More than an oasis on warm days, they’re vital allies for climate justice.
People often ask how climate change affects rivers, but rivers are also key to fighting climate breakdown. You might have heard that the ocean is a major carbon sink, absorbing carbon dioxide emissions and helping regulate the planet’s climate. Rivers and floodplains are equally important to fighting climate change. They play a critical role in transporting organic matter and soil material to the ocean and store carbon, both above and below ground: in riverbank vegetation, in the soil, and within the river channel. Peatlands, a type of wetland, store twice as much carbon as forests.
Rivers are also key in mitigating the impacts of extreme weather events. River floodplains and wetlands act as sponges and buffer zones, absorbing excess water during heavy rainfall and slowly releasing water in dry periods, protecting communities and increasing climate resilience.
In urban landscapes, blue spaces help decrease air temperature through evaporation as the water absorbs heat from the air by as much as 1.6°C, according to a 2024 study. Moreover, rivers also act as wind corridors, improving air circulation and distributing this cooling effect.
Apart from all the ecosystem services rivers provide to people, they’re also incredibly important for biodiversity and are among the most diverse ecosystems. Despite covering less than 1% of Earth’s surface, freshwater habitats are home to around 10% of the planet’s species. These species are vital in balancing and enabling these ecosystems to adapt to a changing climate and to continue regulating the carbon cycle.
Rivers are the lifeblood of our planet, and their importance goes well beyond the aspects mentioned above. However, to release their full potential, they must be healthy. Unfortunately, no rivers in England meet good chemical status, and only 14% meet good ecological status, according to a 2024 report by the Rivers Trust. Raising awareness about the issues facing our rivers and protecting and restoring them to their natural states has never been more important.
With this in mind, the environmental charity Thames21, which works with communities to restore London’s rivers, has been leading the coordination of the London Rivers Week festival, highlighting the importance of our rivers and inspiring people to connect and protect our blue spaces.
Now in its ninth edition, London Rivers Week 2025 is taking place between Friday, 30th May and Sunday, 8th June. This year’s theme is access to nature and good quality blue and green spaces – ‘quality rivers for all’. With more than 40 events across London, most of them free, there are plenty of opportunities to learn more about nature in one of the many webinars and talks, take part in river restoration projects and clean-ups, help as a citizen scientist, get active in riverside walks, and more. There is something for everybody – individuals, families and children. The main aim is to connect communities with their local rivers.
If you’re looking for an opportunity to get involved in volunteering, give back to the environment, connect with like-minded people and explore nature, don’t miss out on London Rivers Week!