Civic Hall hosts crucial climate event days before heatwave hits Leeds

Leeds councillors, an MP, business leaders, major city institutions, and community organisers attended Leeds Civic Hall last Friday for an urgent climate briefing. The event happened just days before Leeds was struck by sweltering 30C heat.

The event, organised by Climate Action Leeds, was attended by more than 150 people.

Green Futures members speak on behalf of their youth group. [All photos courtesy of Ilze Millere]

The focal point was a screening of a new film called The People's Emergency Briefing, about the climate and nature crisis and what it will mean for life in the UK.

Speaking at the event, Alex Sobel, MP for Leeds Central and Headingley, said: “This is the preeminent issue of our time.

Alex Sobel MP speaks to help close the event.

"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, Councillor for Little London and Woodhouse, said: “The film 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. 

There was energetic discussion across the room following the screening.

 “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.”

Also speaking were representatives from Beeston's Green Futures youth group, who said: “The UK is one of the countries most responsible for climate change. Today, you are all sitting here as decision makers with the power to create a difference. Go greener, go further.”

Cllr Katie Dye, Chair 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.”

Simon Dixon and Helen Hart of the Imagine Leeds climate action hub

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 1.37°C in 2025 and projected to exceed 1.5°C in about 4 years if current emissions continue.

The People's Emergency Briefing film features Chris Packham, Jennifer Saunders and Deborah Meaden. The film draws on last November's National Emergency Briefing, where leading UK experts in climate science, food security, health, economics, national security and nature set out what the climate and nature crisis means for everyday life in Britain.

After the screening, guests took part in facilitated discussions across different sectors such as health, education, energy, and housing. Discussions focused on local solutions, including projects already underway and the support needed to scale them up.

Organisers say the event was designed as a practical space for city-wide collaboration and it was especially timely given the heat this week. Extreme weather, food security, public health, energy, local infrastructure, and economic resilience are all increasingly affected by the changing climate.

Climate Action Leeds used the event to announce their new three years of 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 from Climate Action Leeds, 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 long-term home for the community venue we run, Imagine Leeds, which provides vital infrastructure to support dozens of groups across the city.”