Climate change threatens our future – because ‘the Vale of York is one huge ditch’

Climate change could have a devastating effect on York, a workers’ leader has warned.

Leigh Wilks, president of York & District TUC, was speaking ahead of an event on climate justice during York Environment Week.

Mr Wilks said: “All too often people see climate change as something that is not going to affect their own life and community.

“This is despite York’s increasing problems with flooding – and the fact that the Vale of York is effectively one huge ditch does not bode well for York’s future when climate change inevitably worsens in the coming years.

“This is an international issue which over the next few decades is going have a devastating effect on jobs, homes and peoples’ livelihoods – not just across the world, but in the city of York as well.

“It is vital that York mobilises for the COP26 summit – just as other cities around the country are doing – and make our voice heard about just how vulnerable this city is to climate change.”

The York TUC event, Why COP26 can’t deliver climate justice, is open to all but you have to book online.

At the meeting, you can hear from a panel of international climate activists on the limitations of COP, and “help organise the movement fighting runaway climate change”.

Guest speakers at the meeting will include

• Patrick Bond, the South African political economist who has been active in the climate justice movement for over 20 years
• Gyekye Tanoh, the Ghanian climate activist who specialises in the effect of climate change on the most vulnerable continent of all
• Suzanne Jeffery, chair of the Campaign Against Climate Change
• and Sarah Hockey, a local climate activist who has been at the forefront of the campaign to oppose the development and expansion of gas fields in East Yorkshire.