Councillors told to increase climate change commitment

Joanne Ginley

LEEDS councillors must put their political differences aside and vote together to cut the city’s carbon emissions or Leeds will get left behind and residents will lose out, campaigners warned yesterday.

A Leeds coalition of citizens’ groups carried out a day of action yesterday to petition Council leaders to adopt a 40 per cent cut in carbon emissions across the whole of Leeds by 2020. The council will vote on the motion at its full meeting tomorrow.

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David Midgley, from Schumacher North, said: “The climate crisis is an emergency and needs parties to put their differences aside and vote collectively for the good of Leeds and its people – with a 40 per cent cut in citywide carbon by 2020, with the scientific chosen measures, carbon budgets and resources to achieve it.”

Campaigners say while Leeds City Council has pledged to reduce the CO2 emissions from its buildings and services by 40 per cent, it is not yet committed to carbon reductions for the entire city.

Campaigners say the Council should introduce measures including rolling out home energy efficiency measures, working with Metro to make more public transport available and promoting walking and cycling for short journeys.

Councillor James Monaghan, executive member for the environment said: “Leeds City Council has already committed to reducing its own emissions by 40 per cent by 2020. But if Leeds is serious about climate change, the entire city needs to act.

“This is why I will be proposing an amendment at Wednesday’s council meeting supporting the Friends of the Earth campaign.”