Priestley Centre for Climate Futures

Last month we hosted an event to celebrate the transition to our next phase, becoming the Priestley Centre for Climate Futures 🎉🌍 Our guests enjoyed an interactive showcase of climate research and initiatives from across the University of Leeds and our collaborators. During the showcase we also asked some of our guests to share what Priestley means to them, summing up their thoughts in one word! Find out more here 👇 https://lnkd.in/eU2UtTkN Kindly featuring in our video: Harriet Thew, C-Capture Ltd., Leeds, James McKay, Leeds University Libraries and Galleries, Sally Chan, Leeds University Business School, Ice Club - Water@Leeds, GENERATE, Sammie's Flowers - Kiddal Quarry Farm, Buena Jill Galleposo, Hina Komiya, Celine Roblin-Robson And in our showcase: Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission, University of Leeds Sustainability Service, Policy Leeds, Global Food and Environment Institute, University of Leeds, UK Centre for Greening Finance and Investment (CGFI), Leeds Institute for Fluid Dynamics (LIFD), Geosolutions Leeds

In your media roundup this week, our researchers encourage British consumers to reduce their meat and dairy intake, consider the feasibility of slashing greenhouse gases by 81% by 2035, discuss how floods in Spain have been worsened by climate change and, highlight how Moo Deng could be helping to bring attention to Africa’s rainforests which are in desperate need of protection 👇    🍔 In order to meet Net Zero targets in the next few decades, UK nationals should halve their meat and dairy intake, according to the Climate Change Committee (CCC).    Professor Piers Forster, Director of the Priestley Centre and chairman of the CCC, urged Energy Secretary Ed Miliband to act, highlighting that persuading British consumers to change their diets would be key in reducing the UK’s CO2 output ⬇️ The Telegraph (login required): https://lnkd.in/evEmyitZ GB News: https://lnkd.in/eeUsccb8     🌐 The UN Climate Change has warned that climate plans are "falling miles short" of what is needed to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. Current national plans could cut global greenhouse gas emissions by 2.6% (from 2019 to 2030), however the Climate Change Committee warned the new plan should commit to slashing greenhouse gases by 81% in 2035.   Professor Piers Forster said this was feasible with today's technology ⬇️  https://lnkd.in/e8sa5VXm      🌧️ Scientists say climate change made Spanish floods worse.    Professor Mark Smith explains in BBC News how ‘baked soils’ due to hot summers can lead to less rain water being absorbed ⬇️  https://lnkd.in/eZ9jcXW8      🦛 You’ve probably seen a picture of Moo Deng, a pygmy hippo born earlier this year that has been going viral for her cute expressions and chirpy demeanour. Yet the story of her species is less happy, as today, 80% of their native forests have been lost and pygmy hippos are officially listed as endangered.    In the The Conversation UK, a 2017 study by Professor Simon Lewis and Dr Greta Dargie is referenced, highlighting how important these rainforests are for the climate ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eFmAjd7d 

In less than 2 weeks' time, people from all over the world will come together for the United Nations climate negotiation during COP29 Azerbaijan 🌍🌱 Join us for an interactive webinar to find out more about our University of Leeds delegation: 🗓️ Thu 7 Nov ⏰ 12pm - 1pm Register to attend 👇 https://lnkd.in/ekcWNSP3 #COP29 #COP29Azerbaijan

There’s still time to apply for our Climate Scholars programme, open to postgraduate researchers from all University of Leeds faculties! 🎓🌍 The programme is comprised of seminars, workshops and training events that cover: 🔬 Interdisciplinary climate research  💬 Communicating climate change  📢 Leadership and engagement  📚 Career preparedness “To any students considering the programme, don’t hesitate to apply – being a Scholar is a transformative experience that will broaden your skill sets and may even change the course of your PhD!” said PhD researcher and current scholar, Arundhati Kalyan. 🗓️ Applications close on Sunday (3 November) at 5pm. Find out more and apply on our website: https://lnkd.in/enf-wiGp Hannah Barnett, also one of our current scholars, shared her experience and tips for your application 👇

Ed Milliband asked for our advice on setting the 2035 NDC. Our Climate Change Committee recommendation is an 81% by 2035. https://lnkd.in/eAbZAGHe This number is not plucked from thin air. We brought foward lots of analysis to give it. It’s the right level to address the seriousness of climate change. The right level to be delivered in a feasible way that is both good for jobs and the economy. It will set out a strong leadership position at COP29 Azerbaijan provided the UK Government demonstrate a commitment to deliver it. We also give advice on additional actions on finance and adaptation that can be incorporated to support strong international action. It’s great that business leaders have come out in support https://lnkd.in/eecX-BF7: Thank you to Beverley Cornaby and colleagues.

We’re thrilled to announce that Chelsea Boothroyd will be joining the Priestley Centre team as our new Deputy Director for Innovation. Chelsea joins us from Nexus Leeds, where she has been Head of Strategic Partnerships and Fintech Lead. This new role will oversee the development and delivery of an ambitious innovation strategy that draws upon the world leading climate expertise from across the University of Leeds. Find out more 🌐👇  https://lnkd.in/eyshSV7R

In your media roundup this week, Leeds researchers discuss how the use of fertilisers could impact concentrations of nitrous oxide in the atmosphere, along with highlighting the effect that climate change could have on earthworms and photosynthesis 👇 🌱 A recent BBC News article shares the story of a Yorkshire farmer who dramatically cut back on his use of a harmful fertiliser, that would contribute to the emission of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide, improving the health of his crops and "significantly reducing” his costs as a result. Dr Chris Wilson added that concentrations of nitrous oxide in the atmosphere would "continue to rise at alarming rates" unless there was "more considered" use of fertilisers ⬇️  https://lnkd.in/eSac7P-Y 🪱 Did you know that earthworms, like humans, breathe oxygen? However, they don’t have lungs and instead breathe across their skin. During flooding, a lot of oxygen gets consumed in water by various bacterial processes and if the oxygen level drops, then the earthworm will drown. Leeds hydrologists, Megan Klaar and Tom Willis, are part of a 2-year project that will explore how the effects of climate change, such as flooding, impact UK earthworms ⬇️  https://lnkd.in/eewBvYGr   🌳 The basis of all life on Earth is photosynthesis. So, what happens if it is disrupted? During his time at Leeds, Rakesh Tiwari participated in a research project in the Amazon to find out how rising temperatures are threatening the rainforest's ability to function and discusses this work in Phys.org ⬇️  https://lnkd.in/eKug3vQh 

Tonight and tomorrow, the city will be lit up for Light Night Leeds 💫 We chatted to Robin Hayward from the LEAF Centre - University of Leeds who told us all about their leaf lantern project. 💡 The lanterns will be displayed outside the School of Music with an immersive storytelling session from 6pm and 7.15pm each night 🍃 You can also learn more about the carbon sequestering properties of leaves by heading over to the Parkinson building Take a look at all of the installations you will find on campus in Light Night's University Zone here 🌟👇 https://lnkd.in/ecnhDrGe And if you're interested in finding out more about how much carbon is stored in the trees on campus, check out the i-Tree project here 🌳👇 https://lnkd.in/eZm9cPqa

Some more climate poetry for your Friday afternoon! 🌍📚    Ahead of the Summit weekend at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, poet and Director of the University of Leeds Poetry Centre, Professor John Whale, shares his climate poem inspired by a conversation with Dr Lone Nerup Sorensen, one of our Priestley researchers.     Read all of the poems here 👇  https://lnkd.in/e_ZDXApJ    And watch more videos below 👇  https://lnkd.in/e3xSJVwT

Some climate poetry for your Friday afternoon! 🌍📚    Ahead of the Summit weekend at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, poet and manager of the University of Leeds Poetry Centre, Matt Howard, shares his climate poem 'Experiments and Observations on Different Kinds of Air, 1775' inspired by a conversation with Dr Katy Wright, one of our Priestley researchers.     Read all of the poems here 👇  https://lnkd.in/e_ZDXApJ    And watch more videos below 👇  https://lnkd.in/e3xSJVwT