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Ambitious plans have been revealed by Leeds City Council in its bid to meet its net-zero carbon emissions target by the end of the decade.

To help the local authority achieve this, a mid-term target has been drawn up for 2025, by which time the council hopes to more than halve its greenhouse gas emissions from 70,000 to 31,000 tonnes.

The full list of promises, which were approved today, will cost £200 million in total - although a number of these schemes are already well underway.

Today's announcement marks the beginning of a bold new strategy for Leeds City Council, which has fast become one of the most climate-conscious local authorities in the country after declaring a climate emergency in March 2019.

How Leeds will spend £200m to combat climate change £84m on flood alleviation schemes £36m to increase the number of properties connected to the Housing Leeds District heating scheme £31m on improving efficiency of street lights by installing LEDs £15.9m for external wall insulation and solar panels on council houses £7.5m to upgrade its fleet of electric vehicles Leeds City Council

Almost 8,000 people gave their thoughts on the proposals, with 97 per cent saying that combating climate change and protecting biodiversity should be a priority for the city.

The following projects will be accelerated in the coming months and years to help Leeds City Council reduce its carbon emissions by 55 per cent:

100 per cent of electricity at council buildings use to come from renewable sources;

connect double the current number of council homes to the city’s district heating network by the end of 2020;

double the council's fleet of electric vehicles from 95 to 190;

introduce a climate-friendly menu at 182 primary schools.

Cllr Lisa Mulherin, executive member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainable Development, said: "Just ten months after declaring a climate emergency, Leeds is setting a new gold standard for what can be achieved at a city level.

"We are taking immediate and transformative action to make Leeds a fairer, healthier and carbon-neutral city.

'We all have a responsibility to act now. Every action counts.'

"These plans will cut our carbon emissions by more than half, meeting our science-based carbon reduction targets. But the same plans will also have many other benefits that are just as important: creating and sustaining green jobs and improving the health of everyone in the city.

"Like most residents, we believe that all organisations and individuals have a responsibility to live and work more sustainably and I encourage others to follow our lead.

"We all have a carbon footprint. We all have a responsibility to act now. Every action counts."

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