It’s never been more important for us to prioritise inclusivity, particularly as we respond to the challenge of the climate emergency. In an article first published in the Yorkshire Post, our director Leah Stuart sets our how we must prioritise people in response to climate change:

Climate change will impact all of us, but, due to inequalities in society, not everyone will be affected in the same way.

Women, minority groups and older people can often be at greater risk from climate-related effects such as flooding, as they are more likely to be on lower incomes or primary caregivers, which impacts their capacity to adapt.

We must urgently address these issues and design Yorkshire’s built environment and transport systems with more people in mind as we prioritise climate resilience.

Delivering climate commitments fairly

Tackling climate change is now a top priority on a national scale, and a major focus of investment. Here in Yorkshire, the Mayor of West Yorkshire and West Yorkshire Leaders declared a climate emergency in 2019, going further and faster than national Government to set a target for the region to be Net Zero by 2038.

In West Yorkshire, plans to decarbonise transport include the rollout of more than 200 zero emissions buses; an electric vehicle charging strategy and a local electric vehicle infrastructure programme; the Leeds city bike scheme and funding for active travel schemes.

The impetus to change is clearly gathering pace. Earlier this year, the Government announced its ‘Vision for Leeds’ plan, which will see six of the city’s neighbourhoods transformed as part of a 10-year programme. Significant infrastructure investment such as this presents us with the opportunity to deliver a just, fair and more equal future. An integral part of this should be taking a more inclusive approach to our public spaces and transport, as well as making them climate responsive.

We must ensure that any data and information we use to inform our design and planning decisions is representative of local communities, and factors in women, gender-diverse people and minority groups. For example, if we spot a marked increase in cycling, as has been the case in West Yorkshire, we need to interrogate the data and understand in greater depth what has prompted this shift and who is cycling more.

Creating more walkable, well-lit pathways and streets, open gathering spaces and safe cycling routes for those travelling with children, are just some of the ways we can improve accessibility and safety.

Safer snickets, streets and districts

Improving routes for those taking smaller micro-journeys is also key. In Manningham, Bradford, teenage girls from Hollings Youth Association are working with social enterprise Street Space to create safer snickets, as a brilliant example of community engagement.

But more must be done to incorporate personal safety and inclusivity into designing our transport networks. For example, making sure bus routes take into account the school run, and that we’re gritting pavements so that they’re passable with a buggy in the winter is a must.

At the Climate Innovation District, one of our projects in Leeds, the priority was to create a walkable, healthy and family-friendly environment. The spaces we designed between the buildings meet this brief, while also responding to Leeds’ history of flooding by incorporating sustainable urban drainage systems, as an example of infrastructure that responds to both climate and community needs. The neighbourhood has gone on to win widespread praise.

Inclusive design processes

Diverse teams deliver better and more inclusive results, so on all levels, we must involve women in policy making and planning throughout the industry and increase the diversity of the teams that are going to design our way towards Net Zero. It’s also imperative that we connect with and empower communities most impacted by inequalities to tackle issues that are important to them, finding better ways to collaborate as we plan for the future. Asking good questions, deconstructing barriers and really exploring accessibility, safety and inclusivity is key if we’re going to deliver resilient and sustainable places in Yorkshire, where sustainable transport is an easy first choice and everyone is happy and safe spending time outdoors.

Read Leah’s piece here.