COP26: What people in Leeds think
大象传媒 Radio 5 Live has been focusing on Leeds for the last year to find out at what one city is doing to reduce its carbon emissions and help curb climate change.
In November 2021, Nicky Campbell hosted a live audience debate, in Leeds, to mark the end of a global UN conference, in Glasgow, called COP26 and heard a range of views about what local people thought of some of the proposals being discussed by world leaders.
‘Leeds suffers from its motorway city legacy’
Taxi driver Adil spoke about the cost of choosing sustainable food options.
He said the pressures of supporting a family combined with the rising cost of living means “the majority of the people in this country can't afford all these expensive alternatives”.
Professor of climate change policy at the University of Leeds, John Barrett, gave his opinion on eating a vegan diet to live a more sustainable life.
“If you knew what was in that processed food now, you'd be more squeamish than you currently are,” he said.
Leeds Councillor, Neil Walshaw, said the city needs to offer more choice when it comes to transport by getting people “out of their cars,” adding that transport is “one of Leeds’ big problems.”
“We're trying to make Leeds a place where you can actually make a conscious choice within the next 10 years not to have to have a car.”
Mr Walshaw added that Leeds still suffers from the legacy of being the “motorway city” from the 1970s.
‘I cycle a lot and I've been hit twice in last year’
Rhian Williams, chief grower at Kirkstall Valley Urban Farm, said despite the current cycling infrastructure, it is still not enough.
“I cycle a lot and I've been hit twice in last year,” she said. “So that's two broken wrists, and you know that's because all the other road users are just expecting to see other individual cars.”
Ms Williams also claimed that society has not “planned for an alternative” when it comes to transport, but that it can be achieved if the “right choices” are made.
Errol Murray, founder of Leeds Dads, said that despite the advocation of alternative diets, he “can’t let chicken go”.
“I feel terrible about the way it's lived its life, but I'm going to eat it still.” he said.
Marvina, an environmental campaigner, responded by saying that a difference could be made even if someone were to “just go a couple of days a week not eating meat.”
“It's not us against anybody, it's about the system of what can give us a better sustainable future.”
