Climate Commissions Gathering 2026
Step by step: local passion, collective momentum, regional change
Tuesday, 17th November, 2026 | Wakefield Trinity RLFC
Join us in Wakefield on 17 November for the annual Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commissions Gathering.
Now in its fourth year, our flagship event brings together people from across the region who dedicate their time and energy to the projects, partnerships and communities that improve lives, strengthen communities and create positive change through climate action.
This year we will be showcasing the work that is making a difference across Yorkshire and the Humber, while creating space to explore what could come next.
Who should attend?
This invite-only event is for people engaged with the Climate Commissions and similar organisations leading on climate action in Yorkshire and the Humber.
What to expect
The day will include inspiring speakers, interactive workshops and insight from across the region, demonstrating the scale, momentum and strength of place-based climate action in Yorkshire and the Humber whilst providing a forum for collaboration, knowledge exchange and sharing experiences.
In response to calls following last year’s event, we’re also dedicating more time to networking and connection, to encourage peer-to-peer support and to build on positive momentum.
Registration
Please complete the form to book your place.
If you have any questions or need support completing the registration form, please contact yhclimate@leeds.ac.uk.
Programme
Please note that sessions / timings may be subject to change. A final programme will be sent to attendees in the week prior to the event.
09.00 – 9.30 | Arrival and registration
09.30 – 10.30 | Opening session
A welcome to all our attendees followed by some thought-provoking introductions to the topics we’ll be exploring throughout the day. Speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.
10.30 – 10.45 | Refreshment Break
10.45 – 11.45 | Workshops
1. Energy from the Ground up
Pickering Town CIC’s geothermal heat network projects in North Yorkshire and the Sheffield Energy Hub share lessons from project delivery, community outreach and engagement, and explore how community-led energy initiatives can grow and develop.
Hosts:
Russell Hoare, Pickering Town CIC
Geoff Cox, Sheffield Energy Hub
2. Crafting your climate story
An interactive session focusing on shifting climate storytelling from the abstract to the practical by developing your own climate story, and building confidence to have more effective climate conversations.
Presenters:
Sophia Cheng, With Many Roots
3. Exploring tools for youth engagement
In this session you will take part in a selection of practical activities designed to engage young people on their terms. Explore Leeds Climate Commission’s Playgrounds of Possibility, Rewilding Youth’s Climate Futurescaping toolkit, and learn about partnership projects from Nature North and Northern Powergrid, all sharing practical ways to centre young people’s voices in climate action and decision-making.
Hosts:
Ben Harris, Rewilding Youth
Sam Herbert, Leeds Climate Commission and University of Leeds
Steve Scott-Bottoms and Milo Harries, Vesper Hill
Steph Hepworth, Nature North
George Coiley, Northern Powergrid
4. A partnership for rural community action: The Village Green story
Community First Yorkshire shares lessons from the National Lottery Climate Action Fund-supported Village Green project, exploring how cross-sector collaboration creates meaningful local climate action and identifying opportunities for similar approaches elsewhere.
Presenters:
Patrick Hoyle, Community First Yorkshire
11.45 – 12.45 | Networking
Facilitated networking
Last year’s feedback asked for more time to meet people, make connections and discuss common interests. In this slot, you’ll be able to do just that.
12.45 – 13.45 | Lunch
A fully vegetarian and vegan lunch will be provided.
13.45 – 14.30 | Climate wins in land and water
Land and water in our region are heavily affected by climate change, and the decisions we make on how to protect and enhance our region’s land and water will affect us all. In this dynamic session, we’ll hear a variety of perspectives about what good looks like and where positive progress is already being made. We’ll see examples of projects happening in our region right now and open the floor to questions and discussion, exploring how we can accelerate action that improves the quality and resilience of our land and water to the benefit of people, nature and generations to come.
Speakers:
Roger Parkinson, volunteer for The Woodland Trust
Jan Thornton, Yorkshire Food Farming and Rural Network
Amanda Crossfield, Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust
Team Wilder, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
14.30 – 14.45 | Refreshment Break
14.45 – 15.45 | Workshops
1. The power of collective voices
An interactive workshop exploring how place-based collective action can accelerate progress on climate and nature, drawing on experiences from across Yorkshire and Humber to examine what roles are needed to prompt changes to the status quo, and how communities can work together to respond to political challenges.
Presenters:
Simon Bowens, Friends of the Earth
2. Extreme heat: how can people and places adapt?
Reflecting on lived experiences from the record-breaking heatwaves of 2026, explore how people, homes, neighbourhoods and towns can adapt to extreme heat in a changing climate.
Presenters:
Dr Jim Parker, Leeds Beckett University
3. “You’re gonna need a bigger boat”: The Good Futures Framework
What if some top movies had considered just transition principles? A fun introduction to YHCC’s Good Futures Framework, a new tool to support better policy decisions for a just transition.
Hosts:
Jillian Schacher, researcher and consultant
Jon Kedwards, Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commission
4. Making long-term decisions in the face of risk and uncertainty
Join a facilitated roundtable discussion on the barriers and enablers for organisations to increase capacity for long-term decision-making, bringing participants from different sectors and organisations together to share perspectives on risk and financial impact and identify practical outcomes for wider change..
Presenters:
Sarah Whale, Profit Impact
15.45 – 16.00 | Comfort Break
15.45 – 16.30 | Creative responses to climate
Finish your day by experiencing some of the more active and creative responses to climate change happening in our region. Learn about how organisations in the sport and active lifestyles sector are becoming keystone species in climate resilience for our region, how mindful hobbies such as crafting, knitting or modelling can double up as action on climate change or enjoy some tangible connection to nature whilst reflecting on Living Systems thinking – an approach that helps us centre ecological health in our work.
Facilitators:
David Gent, Active Humber
Tahir Akram, Yorkshire Sport Foundation
JK McQuinn, Where the Mind Grows
Jody Harris, Sustainability Sorted
Jonny Dowler, The Rugby Football League
