Regional mayors believe retrofitting homes links between climate and social justice

He also said that retrofitting homes would bring in “tens of thousands” of job opportunities to the construction industry.

Mr Rotheram echoed Mr Burnham’s comments, adding that the link between climate justice and social justice is highlighted when seeing some of the most deprived communities paying higher energy bills because they have the least energy-efficient homes.

The discussion comes as flood risk is rising for social landlords. In January, residents were flooded out of their homes. Inside Housing recently looked at how the risk and insurance costs are rising.

It also comes as residents on older heat networks still face rising bills from the price shock of the war in Ukraine. Inside Housing investigated how they are being affected and what more social landlords can do to protect them from escalating bills.

At the panel discussion on Tuesday, Mr Rotheram acknowledged that although retrofitting homes is an “enormous” project, “I’ve got evidence that it saves about £50 per week during the winter in a single household”. “This is the difference between people being able to heat and eat,” he stated.

The panel was hosted by Emma Howard Boyd, chair of the London Climate Resilience Review.

The review was commissioned by the mayor of London to take stock of capital’s preparations for climate change and to make recommendations to advance its climate resilience.

Deputy London mayor Mr Coban told delegates that mayor Sadiq Khan is devising the London Climate Action Plan, which will set out a framework for how councils can deliver to meet their net zero goals. The plan would be ready by the end of this year.

Mr Coban said: “The communities that have done the least to the climate crisis are paying the most for it. Everything we’re doing is about the people. You’ve got to co-produce, co-design and create a sense of shared ownership among people.”