The Climate Emergency Advisory Committee was scheduled to meet to discuss biodiversity and nature in Leeds. The meeting was also scheduled to include an open forum, and a review of the minutes from the previous meeting.

Here's a breakdown of the topics that were listed on the agenda.

Biodiversity and Nature

The committee was scheduled to discuss a report from the Chief Officer Climate, Energy and Green Spaces, providing an update on the council's work within its green spaces, estates, visitor attractions and woodland creation, in order to address the changing climate.

The report pack mentioned that the Parks and Green Spaces Strategy would be highlighted, as part of the work being done to ensure the objectives and aims of the strategy are met, including addressing biodiversity. The report pack states that biodiversity is integral to the makeup of green spaces, not just in the city but for the wider country.

The report pack also stated that an update would be provided on biodiversity net gain, as well as an update on practical initiatives such as conservation work at Tropical World, including successes and the partnership working that is underway relating to butterfly monitoring.

The report pack recommended that the committee should note and provide comments on items discussed throughout the meeting focused on biodiversity and nature, and discuss and consider key elements of the work being undertaken relating to biodiversity and nature that can form part of future strategies within Leeds.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

The committee was scheduled to review the minutes of the previous meeting held on 21 July 2025. The Minutes of Previous Meeting include discussion of:

• A member site visit to Lotherton Hall scheduled for 5 September 2025.
• A letter that had been sent to both the Leeds City Council Executive Board and the West Yorkshire Pension Fund requesting that more pressure should be applied for WYPF to divest from unsustainable fossil fuel companies.
• An online climate course provided by the Leeds Climate Commission in conjunction with the University of Leeds called Climate Action: Tackling the Climate Crisis for a Better World.
• Feedback from the Carbon Disclosure Project was not yet received.
• Presentations on the theme of Climate Adaptation from Rachel Waterhouse, Policy Officer, Climate, Energy and Green Spaces Team; Andrew White, Senior Project Manager, Climate, Energy and Green Spaces (CEGS) Team; Mark Garford, Principal Engineer, Flood and Climate Resilience Management, City Development; and Jonathan Moxon, Executive Manager Flood Risk Management, City Development.
• The Leeds Food Strategy.
• The Leeds Air Quality Strategy 2021 -2030.
• The Leeds Local Flood Risk Management Strategy Update.
• Liaison with local growers such as Kirkstall Valley Farm and Meanwood Valley Urban Farm.
• River Wharfe Flood Modelling in Wetherby.
• Public Access to Flood data.
• Permeable surfaces and infrastructure.

Open Forum

At the discretion of Councillor Katie Dye, Chair of Climate Emergency Advisory Committee, a period of up to 15 minutes may have been allocated for members of the public to make representations or to ask questions on matters within the terms of reference of the committee. Members of the public were asked to submit a video of their question or statement to climate.emergency@leeds.gov.uk by 5.00 pm on Wednesday the 17th of September.