Big Leeds Climate Conversation to be extended to November 30

Leeds City Council is to extend the deadline for taking part in the Big Leeds Climate Conversation by an additional month, it announced today.

The extension will give residents a final opportunity to have their say on how the city should respond to the climate emergency.

So far, more than 5,500 residents have responded to the online survey and council officers have engaged with residents about climate at more than 50 events across the city.

The questionnaire aims to raise awareness of the urgent need to tackle climate change, find out what actions individuals are willing to take, and explore what residents think about a number of bold ideas to cut emissions in Leeds.

The key findings of the consultation will inform an action plan to be presented to the council’s Executive Board in December.

Cllr Lisa Mulherin, Executive Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainable Development said:

“The Big Leeds Climate Conversation allows all residents to share their views on one of the biggest challenges our city is currently facing. Responding to the climate emergency will require significant changes across Leeds and we want communities to be involved throughout this process.

“Extending the deadline to complete the survey gives us a greater opportunity to engage further with every community, making the conversation in Leeds even bigger.

“The results of this consultation will go towards shaping our future city and ultimately achieving our target of being carbon neutral by 2030."

The Big Leeds Climate Conversation is being delivered by Leeds City Council with the Leeds Climate Commission.

Professor Andy Gouldson, Chair of Leeds Climate Commission, said:

“It’s really important that people in Leeds have their say about how we as a city respond to the Climate Emergency.

"The online survey is a great way to show what you think about some of the big ideas Leeds is considering. Spending just 15 minutes of your time doing this is a positive way you can help to 'be the change' right here in Leeds."

Residents are encouraged to complete an online questionnaire by November 30 at: www.leeds.gov.uk/climateconversation.

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact:

Rebecca Watson 

rebecca.watson@leeds.gov.uk

Notes for editors:

Watch films of Cllr Mulherin and Andy Gouldson at the launch of the Big Leeds Climate Conversation: https://bit.ly/2M1NS0W

Further information about the council's work to tackle climate change can be found here: http://www.leeds.gov.uk/climate

Respondents to the questionnaire are asked about what individual actions they are willing to take themed around five broad categories:

• the food we eat and waste
• the way we choose to travel
• the stuff we buy and discard
• whether our balconies and gardens support biodiversity
• the energy efficiency of our home

The bold ideas to reduce carbon emissions that the council is seeking resident views on include:

• Introducing tool libraries across the city;
• Supporting hydrogen gas infrastructure for heating and fuelling large vehicles;
• Reducing the carbon footprint of school meals;
• Expanding the Clean Air Charging Zone to high polluting cars and vans by 2030;
• New highways improvements in town centres;
• Introducing a mass-tree planting scheme;
• Creating a new carbon offsetting scheme based in Leeds;
• Planting more wildlife-friendly species at parks and verges;
• Additional investment in sustainable travel infrastructure.