Leeds Councillors set to discuss net-zero plans

Leeds City Council to discuss how the city can reach net-zero.

Senior councillors will discuss the findings of a new report which outlines how the council can accelerate climate action.

Action includes generating renewable energy, improving the sustainability standards of new council-funded buildings and supporting the rollout of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. 

The council intends to develop new guidance based on the principle of requiring council-funded developments to be ‘net-zero ready’ and to assess options based on value for money over the lifetime of the building. 

The change would lead to better-insulated buildings which are more energy-efficient, reducing heating costs for the council and housing tenants. 

The report also reveals plans to bring forward new strategies on food, housing, skills, and resilience later this year. Each document will reflect the council’s net-zero carbon priority as a central theme.

Cllr Helen Hayden, Executive Member for infrastructure and climate said: ‘I’m proud to see this report coming to Executive Board. It is no secret that the last 2 years have been difficult, but to see the huge amount of work that has been done, alongside our plans going forward is astounding.

‘Over the last year, we have shown that we are capable of making positive change and that we have the confidence and talent to keep doing more. The funding we have secured has helped us to deliver millions of pounds of green upgrades and will help us to deliver even more. The work we do now has already begun to create the skilled green jobs of the future.

‘It would be easier to bury our heads in the sand and ignore these problems, but the current and future generations of Leeds need us to act now and rise up to the challenge. We’re taking bold action to improve the lives of residents now and ensure that we do everything we can to prevent the worst effects of climate change and prepare our city for the future.’