Letter 6 — To Councillor Jane Dowson
Looking ahead, which two institutional or civic actors — locally or regionally — do you think could most help re-centre the climate emergency in public debate? And how might you envision your own role in that renewed effort?
Education, community life and the climate conversation
Date: 18 October 2025
Recipient: Cllr Jane Dowson, Labour — Chapel Allerton Ward, Leeds City Council
Context
With this sixth letter, One Letter a Day continues its dialogue with Leeds councillors, exploring how local leadership can sustain attention to the climate crisis even as national focus drifts elsewhere.
Councillor Dowson’s long record in education and community work offers a perspective on how schools, families and neighbourhood networks can translate climate awareness into everyday practice — and how civic figures can nurture that connection.
Letter
Dear Councillor Dowson,
I’m writing as part of my One Letter a Day project — a personal effort to re-engage civic leaders in visible, public dialogue on climate action. Each letter is addressed to someone whose role can help renew that conversation, and is published online along with any replies to stimulate broader discussion. I am starting in Leeds, where I live. Yours is the sixth letter, so it is still early days.
Your long-standing work in education and community life has shaped how many young people experience their city. Schools and neighbourhood networks play a quiet but powerful role in translating climate awareness into everyday practice, and I often hope Leeds could lead nationally in exemplifying how that can work.
We all sense that these are decisive years. The global window for limiting warming is closing, yet public conversation too often drifts toward short-term issues. Leeds has laid important foundations, but sustaining momentum now depends on visible civic leadership and hope.
So my question is this:
Looking ahead, which two institutional or civic actors — locally or regionally — do you think could most help re-centre the climate emergency in public debate? And how might you envision your own role in that renewed effort?
Alongside this project, I am active with Zero Carbon Headingley and the West Yorkshire Climate Commission. Your perspective would greatly help shape where this dialogue goes next.
With thanks for your continued service to the city,
– Vivien
Headingley / Hyde Park resident
Founder, One Letter a Day
📨 Reply from Cllr Jane Dowson
No reply has yet been received.
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Tomorrow’s letter will close Week 1 with Councillor Lou Cunningham, exploring how grassroots action and care-centred leadership can help shape a just transition in Leeds.