Harrogate Councillor appointed to influential Y&H Climate Commission

The appointment of Councillor Richard Cooper, Leader of Harrogate Borough Council, to the new Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commission gives local people a great opportunity to hear more about the multiple benefits of taking action towards net zero and developing resilience to climate change.

Richard outlines his vision for the Y&H Climate Commission and introduces some of the actions individuals, businesses and policy makers can take now.

Councillor Richard Cooper, Leader of Harrogate Borough Council, "It is a privilege to serve on the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission as a vice-chairman representing York and North Yorkshire. I want the climate change commission to demonstrate what needs to be done to reach net zero carbon emissions and to make it happen. It needs to take people, communities and businesses with it as it does so but it should also not shy away from telling people the truth: reaching net zero cannot be done without significant and long-lasting change to the way every single one of us lives our lives.

"Reaching net zero means leaving the car at home whenever possible, better insulated and more efficiently-heated homes, shorter supply chains, sustainable food production and purchasing, higher taxes on polluting activities and more besides. But reaching net zero is something we must do while there is still time to prevent catastrophic consequences by taking the actions available to us now."