Leeds Climate Commission

What Leeds Climate Commission does

Leeds Climate Commission is an independent advisory body, established in 2017 and hosted by the University of Leeds, that convenes, guides and mobilises climate action across Leeds. It was the first climate commission in the United Kingdom and has served as a blueprint for other place-based climate commissions that subsequently launched across the country. A relaunch in 2024 expanded its strategic focus to include nature recovery, a just transition, climate adaptation and resilience, and rapid emissions reduction. The Commission does not deliver climate action directly; rather, it coordinates across the public, private and third sectors to avoid duplication and provide an independent safe space for planning, dialogue, debate and delivery of climate strategy.

The Commission is operated by a small staff team of approximately 9-13 people, supported by 19 appointed Commissioners drawn from Leeds City Council, the University of Leeds, Leeds Beckett University, the Environment Agency, Phoenix Group, Yorkshire Building Society, Citu, Climate Action Leeds and other organisations. Its core offerings include convening partnerships (most prominently the Leeds Ambitions Resilient: Sustainable City ambition), the Climate Action Pledge signatory programme for organisations, and Associate and Affiliate programmes for individuals and community members. It operates primarily across the Yorkshire and the Humber region, with a particular focus on Leeds.

The Commission's business model is non-commercial; it is an independent advisory body rather than a revenue-generating company. It receives institutional support from the University of Leeds and operates with no commercial pricing, no funding rounds, no parent company, and no venture or private equity involvement. Its customer base spans three segments: public sector leaders (primary), individuals and communities, and organisations and businesses. The Commission's primary distribution channels are the Leeds Ambitions Partnership Network, the Climate Action Pledge programme, and the Associate and Affiliate programmes, supplemented by organic social media presence on LinkedIn and Bluesky, email newsletters, website content, and events.

Name

Leeds Climate Commission

Legal name

Leeds Climate Commission

Website

https://leedsclimate.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Leeds Climate Commission is the UK's first independent climate advisory body, hosted by the University of Leeds, that convenes public, private and third-sector leaders to coordinate climate action across Leeds through pledges, partnerships and community programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Advisory and Sustainability Convening Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation & Resilience Programs (BPAIAMAD), Climate Policy, Governance & NDC Support (BPADALAA)

Keywords

• Climate advisory services
• Sustainability convening
• Place-based climate action
• Net zero strategy
• Community climate engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Leeds

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Institutional Support: The Commission is hosted by the University of Leeds and supported by institutional backing. A relaunch of the Commission took place in 2024 with revitalised purpose and direction.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Leeds Climate Commission is an independent advisory body that supports, guides and mobilises climate action across Leeds by convening public, private and third-sector stakeholders. It does not deliver climate action directly; instead it coordinates partnerships such as the Resilient: Sustainable City ambition, runs a Climate Action Pledge for organisations, and offers Associate/Affiliate programmes for individuals to participate in climate and nature initiatives.

Product overview

Leeds Climate Commission is an independent advisory body that supports, guides and mobilises climate action across Leeds. It functions as a convening organization that brings together leaders from the public, private, and third sectors to collaborate on climate action delivery. The Commission does not deliver climate action directly or duplicate existing efforts. Its offerings include convening partnerships (such as the Resilient: Sustainable City ambition), a Climate Action Pledge for organizations, affiliate and associate membership programs, and guidance for individual community engagement on climate and nature issues.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Climate Action Pledge Programme A commitment-based programme through which organisations of any size pledge to act on climate and nature, accessing climate action resources and the Commission's network as part of a signatory engagement programme.
• Associate and Affiliate Membership Programme Two-tier individual membership programme: Associates advise and lead Commission projects, while Affiliates participate in events and consultations on climate and nature initiatives.
• Leeds Ambitions: Resilient: Sustainable City Convening Partnership Convening partnership delivered with Leeds City Council under the Leeds Ambitions framework, coordinating the West Yorkshire Climate and Environment Plan, Connecting Leeds Transport Strategy, Parks and Green Spaces Strategy, Leeds Food Strategy and Leeds Local Plan around a single climate ambition.

Quantifiable outcome

• Aims for Leeds to be the UK's first net zero and nature positive city
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• University of LeedscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Commission is hosted by and based at the University of Leeds. The University provides institutional support and infrastructure for the Commission's operations.
• Leeds City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeeds City Council is a key supporting partner. The Council's Climate Emergency Advisory Committee is chaired by Cllr Katie Dye, Co-Chair of the Commission. Working together on the Resilient: Sustainable City ambition.
• West Yorkshire Combined AuthoritysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting the West Yorkshire Climate and Environment Plan as a key supporting plan and strategy for the Leeds Ambitions Resilient: Sustainable City ambition.
• Climate Action LeedscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioner Jenni Brooks serves as Doughnut Economics Lead at Climate Action Leeds. Commissioner Simon Dixon is a climate justice organiser for Climate Action Leeds. Deep involvement in the Commission's work from this community organisation.
• Leeds Beckett UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioner Jim Parker is Reader in the Leeds Sustainability Institute at Leeds Beckett University, heading their Sustainable Urban Environments research theme.
• Environment AgencysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioner Juliet de Little is a senior scientist for the Environment Agency in strategy and investment. Commissioner Jatinder Singh Mehmi is a Principal Social Scientist at the Environment Agency.
• Phoenix GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioner Elliot Kilbride leads on ESG strategy, carbon reduction targets, and human rights risk approach for suppliers at Phoenix Group.
• Yorkshire Building SocietysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioner Kate Livesey works for Yorkshire Building Society, helping the organisation reduce its carbon footprint.
• CitusupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioner Jonathan Wilson is Managing Director at Citu, a sustainable development company.
• Leeds RhinosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioner Sue Ward has served as Operations Director at Leeds Rhinos, bringing sports sector perspective to climate action.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group: Global network of city mayors and climate leaders coordinating city-level climate action. Overlaps with LCC in being a cross-city convening platform for place-based climate work, but operates globally rather than locally and focuses on mayoral leadership rather than broad cross-sector convening.
• UK Climate Change Committee (CCC): Statutory independent advisory body that inspired the establishment of Leeds Climate Commission in 2017. Operates at the UK national level advising government on climate targets and progress; LCC explicitly modelled itself on CCC's role at city scale.

Emerging players

• CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project): Global disclosure system that runs city-level climate reporting and benchmarks local authority climate action. Comparable to LCC in driving city-level climate transparency and action, but focuses on measurement/disclosure while LCC focuses on convening and pledge-based mobilisation.

Direct peers

• Manchester Climate Change Partnership: Manchester-based cross-sector climate partnership convening public, private and academic actors to deliver city-level climate action. Closest functional analogue to LCC: same place-based convening model, same UK city-level remit, similar independent advisory posture.
• Bristol Climate and Nature Partnership: Bristol-based partnership coordinating climate and nature action across sectors in the city. Directly comparable to LCC in scope (climate + nature, place-based), structure (cross-sector convening) and UK local-authority context.

Regional players

• West Midlands Climate Change Adaptation Partnership: Adaptation-focused climate partnership working with West Midlands local authorities. Comparable regional place-based climate coordination model to LCC but covers a combined-authority region rather than a single city.
• Climate Change Commission Wales: Welsh independent advisory body providing climate change evidence and advice to the Welsh Government. Comparable independent advisory role to LCC but operates at national-government level for Wales rather than city level for Leeds.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/leeds-clim-comm

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles25 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Leeds Climate Commission