Will you help us #LeedsByExample? Every action counts.
Individuals
We can’t solve climate change on our own, but together we can make a huge difference.
The food we eat, the way we travel, the energy we use to power our buildings, how we care for and get rid of our stuff, and the way we use our own influence and voice all affect climate change.
Leeds is proud to be a founding partner of the Count Us In movement – a global campaign championing the practical actions of people across the world to help tackle climate change. Hundreds of thousands of people have already pledged to make a change and reduce their carbon footprint. Can we count you in?
Explore the pages below to find out how you can live more sustainably, save money, and live better by taking action and making a pledge in support of Count Us In.
Together, we can be a city that #LeedsByExample.
Businesses and organisations
Businesses in Leeds also have a vital role to play in our journey to become a carbon-neutral city.
Similar to our Leeds By Example website for individuals, there are several online toolkits designed to give business owners the knowledge and tools to understand and reduce their organisational carbon footprint.
We’d recommend the SME Climate Hub for small and medium-sized enterprises and the Race to Zero website for larger businesses.
Toolkit for young people.
As our youngest residents will be most impacted by climate change, they should be able to help the city respond to this challenge.
That’s why we’ve created a toolkit that includes ideas from more than 100 young people in Leeds. It includes lots of resources to help young people put their ideas into action and have their voices heard at home, school, and in their community.
How big is your carbon footprint?
Your carbon footprint measures how much you’re contributing to climate change. The bigger your footprint, the more planet-warming gases your actions are responsible for emitting into our atmosphere—and the bigger your impact on the planet.
Do you know what your carbon footprint is? How does it compare to the average UK or global citizen? Take WWF’s carbon footprint calculator quiz to find out.
Then, browse the website to find tips on how to get started with reducing your footprint and #LeedsByExample.
How will the climate emergency affect Leeds?
Climate change will directly impact Leeds by increasing the frequency of flooding, heatwaves, and wildfires; by threatening much of our local wildlife; and by making our food more expensive to buy and grow. These changes will be noticed by everyone but they will be experienced very differently—making it harder to reduce racial, economic and health inequalities.
Worldwide, tens of millions of people will lose their homes to extreme heat or rising sea levels and many of those displaced are expected to migrate to temperate countries such as the UK. As a diverse and global city, many of our own residents also have family and friends in nations which will be worst affected by the changing climate.
Although the climate is already changing, by acting now we can protect the city from its worst impacts, create new good quality jobs and make Leeds a better place to live. It’s a unique opportunity to improve our lives and make our city happier, healthier and fairer for everyone.
What else is happening?
Leeds By Example supports Leeds City Council’s ambition to become a carbon-neutral city by 2030. Find out more about the council’s strategy to respond to climate change.
To stay up to date with climate emergency news and opportunities in Leeds, subscribe to our monthly #LeedsClimate newsletter.
Leeds By Example also supports the work of the Leeds Climate Commission and the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission. These are independent advisory bodies bringing together the public, private, and third sectors to support and guide ambitious climate actions in our city and region.
