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Leeds will be the UK’s first net zero and nature positive city, rapidly reducing carbon emissions and restoring nature, supporting people and businesses to make increasingly sustainable choices that improve their standard of living and create a regenerative thriving city.

Three goals underpinning this ambition:

  • improving the resilience of our people, communities, businesses and services to the changing climate, restoring our connection with nature and creating quality green space where people can be active
  • rapidly reducing carbon emissions, creating warmer homes and lower energy bills which help people out of fuel poverty and support businesses to lower their costs
  • connecting the city by improving our transport system to be more sustainable, accessible, safe and affordable, providing people with good alternatives to car use

Indicators to measure our impact:

  • premises at EPC C or better, residential and commercial
  • reduction in citywide carbon emissions against 2005 baseline
  • buildings at risk of flooding, homes and critical infrastructure
  • hectares of trees planted and % increase in tree canopy cover
  • household waste across Leeds re-used, recycled, composted or used to create energy
  • households in fuel poverty – annual
  • district heating connections across the city
  • public transport powered by low-carbon or zero-carbon emissions technology
  • adults who walk or cycle for travel at least once per week

Driving the ambition forward

The Leeds Ambitions are deliberately bold and will be challenging to achieve. No single organisation, including Leeds City Council, can deliver on them alone. To help us achieve this, each of the four Leeds Ambitions will be adopted by a convening organisation or partnership. Supported by Leeds City Council.

Convenor: 

Leeds Climate Commission and Director, Rosa Foster 

Partnerships and strategies

Leeds is working towards being a sustainable, cleaner and more connected city that puts climate resilience first. Through shared action and strong partnerships, positive changes are being made to reduce carbon emissions and improve our green spaces for people in the city.

Key supporting plans and strategies

Main supporting partnerships