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.