BBC Radio 5 Live is launching a new year-long project that will follow the city of Leeds in its efforts to cut carbon emissions.

Leeds has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2030. BBC Radio 5 Live will follow families, business people, campaigners, and local leaders for a year as they seek to make the changes needed to deliver a greener future for the city.

An independent advisory group, set up to support ambitious climate action in Yorkshire and the Humber, has launched today, 17 March.

The Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission brings together a team of climate leaders from across the public, private and third sectors, in the largest regional Commission of its kind in the UK.

A major milestone has been hit on the Connecting Leeds Headrow scheme as the first trees have been planted on Dortmund Square.

The semi-mature trees, which were planted by Leeds City Council’s parks and countryside team, are the first of over 30 which will be planted across the scheme. There will be a net gain of approximately 90 trees once all three city centre projects are complete next year.

Taking action on climate change could save Leeds £651m per year and create 1,500 jobs for the next decade, a new report has revealed. 

These social and economic benefits could be a central part of the city’s post-Covid recovery plans says the Leeds Climate Commission, which has produced a Net-Zero Carbon Roadmap for Leeds. It shows how the city can achieve its ambition of net-zero emissions by 2030 with many positive benefits for health, equality, travel, housing and the environment.