📫Letter 2 — To Cllr Tim Goodall (with reply)

Sustaining visible climate leadership in Leeds

Date: 14 October 2025
Recipient: Cllr Tim Goodall, Green Party, Headingley & Hyde Park Ward

I’m writing as part of One Letter a Day: a year-long public project to rekindle honest, grounded conversations about the climate crisis, beginning here in Leeds.

Over the next twelve months, I plan to write daily to people in positions of influence (councillors, MPs, business leaders and public figures) to explore how we might act meaningfully on the climate emergency at every level. Each exchange is published online to foster open, fact-based dialogue rather than private correspondence.

We’ve met several times, in the neighbourhood but also through Zero Carbon Headingley, and I appreciate your openness to discussion. Since your election last year, you’ve been active on practical ward issues from parking and waste collection to community safety and schools; which are all important.

Yet as a Green Party councillor, many of us also look to you for a clear, public articulation of how Leeds can strengthen its environmental ambition. At a time when national politics is retreating from climate commitments and local councils are stretched thin, even symbolic leadership matters. So my question to you is this:

How do you see your role — both personally and within the Council — in keeping climate and environmental priorities visible in Leeds, and what concrete steps could you champion locally to demonstrate that leadership?

I’d greatly value your reflections and, if possible, a short reply that I can share alongside this letter to deepen the civic conversation over the coming year.

With thanks and respect,

— Vivien
Headingley / Hyde Park resident

📨 Reply from Cllr Goodall

Dear Vivien,

Now (finally!) a response to your questions about climate leadership.

How do you see your role — both personally and within the Council — in keeping climate and environmental priorities visible in Leeds, and what concrete steps could you champion locally to demonstrate that leadership?

I’ll split my answer into parts:

Personally – I joined the Green Party back in 1989 after reading the manifesto and realising there was a party that cared equally about people and the planet. Many environmental policies that we (members) have passed at Green Party conference have then been taken up by other parties — sometimes many years later — and become mainstream. The key thing needed for climate and the environment is for government and corporations to make changes, which is why I’ve been so keen to support the Green Party to make systemic change, as well as trying to be as climate-conscious and environmental as I can in my own life.

I studied ecology at university and still use that knowledge through conservation activities such as the Woodhouse Ridge Action Group. As flying is one of the most significant contributors to climate change, I’ve hugely reduced flying and haven’t flown at all in 2025. I’m not going to say that I’ll never fly again — I have close family in the US — but I’ve cut visits there sharply (I haven’t flown there since 2014). I also don’t have a car and walk almost everywhere, occasionally taking buses or taxis. I don’t eat meat and do my best to avoid plastic products (though I need to get better at that, particularly persuading the rest of my family!).

Within the Council – The Greens have one seat on each committee, so only our Group Leader, Cllr Penny Stables, sits on the Climate Emergency Advisory Committee, where she has done a lot of work. Another Green Councillor, Ann Forsaith (now retired), proposed the motion for Leeds City Council to declare a climate emergency — that motion passed and led to the creation of the CEAC.

I currently serve on the Children & Families Scrutiny Board, which doesn’t have much of a remit around climate and environment, but I’m about to take a place on the Infrastructure, Investment and Inclusive Growth Scrutiny Board, where I’ll have more opportunity to bring in climate and environmental issues — for example, active travel.

My speeches at Full Council have regularly focused on climate and environmental issues, urging the Council to build on brownfield sites and to avoid repeating past mistakes such as developments on the edge of the city (like the East Leeds Orbital), which lack facilities and public-transport links and end up car-dependent.

Before becoming a councillor, I helped set up the Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport (GALBA) to stop the airport expanding. I remained deputy chair until I became a councillor and could no longer attend meetings, but I still strongly support GALBA’s work and have raised their questions at Full Council. As GALBA’s research shows, all the gains we’ve made in reducing emissions across Leeds would be lost if the airport were allowed to expand.

I’ve worked hard to support independent local businesses, as it helps people shop locally and reduce car use.

I’ve supported active-travel schemes across Leeds and tried to work with schools on active travel to school — though I know there’s more to do.

There’s probably much more, but hopefully that gives you an idea of some of the things I’ve done.

Best wishes,
Tim Goodall

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Tomorrow’s letter will be addressed to Cllr Jonathan Pryor, continuing this local dialogue on how our city can turn concern into visible climate action.