'The preeminent issue of our time': 'Emergency' climate briefing held in Leeds - days before heatwave
‘There is a huge challenge ahead for all of us’
Leeds politicians, business leaders and community campaigners gathered for an “urgent climate briefing” - just days before the city was hit by soaring 30C temperatures.
More than 150 people attended the event at Leeds Civic Hall, where speakers warned that the climate crisis is already affecting everyday life and called for faster action, as new research suggests global warming is accelerating.
Organisers Climate Action Leeds said the event was “especially timely” as an amber health alert for extreme heat was issued across the city.
Attendees watched a new film with The People's Emergency Briefing, featuring Chris Packham, Jennifer Saunders and Deborah Meaden, which addresses what climate change will mean for life in the UK.
Speaking at the event, Alex Sobel, Labour and Co-operative MP for Leeds Central and Headingley, said: “This is the preeminent issue of our time. I do think it's important that we have a national emergency briefing and that it is televised. This emergency isn't quite as immediate as a pandemic but it is on a higher scale, because it's easier to cure a disease than to turn around the climate and nature crisis that we're in.”
Eden Hills, the Green Party councillor for Little London and Woodhouse, said: “The film that we've seen today makes very clear the scale of the challenges that we're facing on the climate crisis, the loss of biodiversity and the damage being done to our rivers and natural environment. As a young person, this does feel very existential to me.
“I hope that councillors from across the chamber will work to ensure that Leeds City Council keeps to its climate commitments and does everything it can to make our city more sustainable and resilient.”
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The screening followed the publication of new research by Leeds-based climate scientists, which warned that the Earth is accumulating heat at an accelerating rate, with an average global temperature increase reaching 1.37C in 2025 and projected to exceed 1.5C in about four years if current emissions continue.
After the screening, discussions took place to focus on Leeds-based solutions in different sectors such as health, education, energy and housing, including projects already underway and the support needed to scale them up.
Councillor Katie Dye, chairwoman of the council’s Climate Emergency Advisory Committee, said: “Today’s film is a reminder that we must work at pace on climate and nature, because there is a huge challenge ahead for all of us.”
Climate Action Leeds announced new funding of £495,000 from the National Lottery, Leeds Community Foundation, BUNZL, University of Leeds and North Star Coffee Roasters.
Anne-Lise Lancaster, lead organiser of the event, said: “As we head into our next three year phase of work, it is wonderful to see the strength of support from community members and elected politicians for ambitious action on climate and nature.
“Our big challenge now is to find a new long term home for the community venue we run, called Imagine Leeds, which provides vital infrastructure to support dozens of groups across the city.”