New advisory group will support climate action in Yorkshire

A new independent advisory group has been launched to support climate action in Yorkshire and the Humber. 

The Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission brings together a team of climate leaders from across public, private and third sectors to work collaboratively to drive climate action.

The commission is made up of a chair, four vice-chairs, a director and 27 commissioners from a wide range of sectors.

The work will be based on the principles of inclusivity and a ‘just transition’ – it will also work to ensure that climate actions are sustainable and bring benefits to nature and local wildlife.

The commission has been formed as part of the Place-based Climate Action Network (PCAN), an ESRC-funded research network that builds upon the model of the Leeds Climate Commission, which launched in 2017.

Liz Barber, CEO of Yorkshire Water and commission chair, said: ‘We have much to do and will need to work quickly to ensure that Yorkshire has a well developed and coordinated action plan to respond to the changes in our climate which are having such a dramatic effect.

‘It is however not just about speed, it is really important that we work in an inclusive way to ensure that we engage a real cross section of Yorkshire and the Humber and bring people along with us. Working alongside the climate leaders on the commission, our work panels will enable us to involve a huge range of people with different perspectives and opinions.’

Director of the commission, Andy Gouldson, Professor of Environmental Policy at the University Of Leeds’ added: ‘Climate commissions are vital in helping us to tackle the climate crisis through collective action across sectors and in communities.

‘This is the largest UK commission to date, and we are hopeful that it can be the most impactful by improving people’s lives throughout Yorkshire and Humber and ensuring a liveable future for us all.’

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