Leeds city council launched their net zero by 2030 as part of their best city ambition. Their aim is to reduce Leeds’ carbon footprint. This year they have launched a new e-bike scheme where there are stations dotted across Leeds giving residents access to bikes to use instead of buses or cars. More buses are electric or eco friendly.
In a survey by Leeds city council they found 94.8% of residents are worried about the effects of climate change on future generations and 93.4% believe that climate change is due to human activity.
An organisation called Small99 holds events around the UK for like-minded people to meet to discuss updates on the climate plan. Their aim is to get one million small businesses to become net zero. They try to help small businesses understand their carbon footprint and reduce it, helping conserve nature reserves and changing business models to be more sustainable.
There is a growing number of sustainable stores around Leeds as businesses and individuals are being encouraged to reduce their carbon footprint. Beamworks in Headingley is primararly a print shop but they have sustainabilty at the core of their ethos.They use biodegradable, compostable and recycling packing rather than plastic and encourage customers to recycle any cardboard packaging.
A worker at the shop, Maddie Flemming said: “What is important for us is sourcing our paper.” Maddie said that the suppliers are all about sustaibnable forestry She added, “Our makers only use pulps and fibers from the young trees that are native to this country.”
David Blackburn, Leeds’ Green councillor is conflicted about whether the goal of net-zero by 2030 is realistic, he said: “One of the great problems is that private vehincles aren’t going to be in that position by then, the governments put back five years when we’re going to stop doing diesel and petrol cars.”
It is not clear whether or not Leeds will make the target of net-zero by 2030, but with more businesses becoming sustainable there is still hope the city might make it.
