Author: Leeds Climate Commission, Andy Gouldson; Andrew Sudmant; Amelia Duncan & Robert Fraser Williamson

Category: City Net Zero Policy

Published/Created by: Leeds Climate Commission

Link: https://leedsclimate.org.uk/sites/default/files/Net-Zero%20Carbon%20Roadmap%20for%20Leeds.pdf

Leeds Climate Commission has produced a Net-Zero Carbon Roadmap for Leeds that 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. Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions from Leeds have fallen by 40% since the turn of the Millennium. With on-going decarbonisation of grid electricity and taking into account population and economic growth within the city region, they project that Leeds’ 2000 level of annual emissions will have fallen by a total of 45% in 2030 and 49% in 2050. Without further activity to address its carbon emissions, they project that Leeds’ annual emissions will exceed its carbon budget by 4 million tonnes in 2030, and 3.5 million tonnes in 2050. To meet these carbon emissions reduction targets, Leeds will need to adopt low carbon options that close the gap between its projected emissions in future and net-zero emissions. This can be partially realised through cost-effective options that would more than pay for themselves through the energy cost reductions they would generate whilst generating wide social and environmental benefits in the area. Leeds could close the gap between its projected emissions in 2030 and net-zero emissions by 41% purely through the adoption of cost-effective options in houses, public and commercial buildings, transport and industry. Options identified include promoting the use of low carbon vehicles, electrification and use of hydrogen for heating and cooking, and planting trees.