Policy Leeds March signpost
An analysis of the Climate Change Committee’s 7th carbon budget, reports look at migrant women entrepreneurs and Y-PERN’s 2nd year, Leeds research features in recent Parliament horizon scans and much more.
Review of Climate Change Committee’s seventh carbon budget
The University of Leeds’s Climate Evidence Unit have produced a detailed analysis of the UK Climate Change Committee’s recently released 7th carbon budget that provides advice to the UK Government on limits to greenhouse gas emissions between 2038 and 2042.
The Climate Evidence Unit noted that the key takeaway from the carbon budget — that the transition to net zero is not only possible but highly beneficial — is supported by robust evidence. However, they found that the economic losses due to extreme weather and other effects of climate change were underrepresented, the cost of inaction is high. There were also missed opportunities to consider the social transitions that are needed alongside technological solutions.
Read the review of the CCC’s 7th Carbon Budget by the Climate Evidence Unit
New report on supporting migrant women entrepreneurs
Dr Deema Refai (Leeds University Business School), Ewa Lelontko (Migration Yorkshire) and colleagues from The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network (TERN) have published a new report sharing key recommendations and future outlooks from their project “Migrant Women in Business — A Focus on West Yorkshire”.
The project, funded by West Yorkshire Combined Authority, investigated business startup support in West Yorkshire and the wider Yorkshire and Humber region. This new output provides insights into existing support systems and highlights opportunities to better harness the socio-economic potential of migrant women entrepreneurs through more inclusive business provisions.
Leeds research supports Parliament’s work on green education and retrofitting historic buildings
Two of UK Parliament’s recent Horizon Scan briefings reference the work of colleagues from the Schools of Earth and Environment, and Sociology and Social Policy.
The ‘Net zero and the UK’s historic building stock’ Horizon Scan assesses the need for retrofit and how it can be implemented to enhance our energy efficiency. It cites research by Lucie Middlemiss, Mark Davis, Ruth Bookbinder, Anne Owen, Stephen Hall and colleagues from the Universities of Sussex and Strathclyde.
Read the Horizon Scan or find out more about the UK Energy Research Centre funded retrofit research.
The ‘Green education, training and employment’ Horizon Scan identified challenges and opportunities related to green skills, education and employment in the UK. It cites research by Rachel Carr-Whitworth, John Barrett, Robin Styles, Samuel Betts-Davies and colleagues from the Universities of Nottingham, Sussex and Cardiff.
Read the Horizon Scan or read the research ‘Delivering net zero in the UK: twelve conditions for success’ (open access)
Y-PERN Year 2 regional report
Y-PERN’s new report showcases their activity to date, reflecting on what they’ve learnt about their impact and value. It also looks at how Yorkshire and the Humber is leading the way for regional academic policy engagement. Find out what they’ve been up to in Y-PERN’s Year 2 regional report.
Events
JUST Centre launch
12 March, 5pm — 7pm, The People History Museum, Manchester
The JUST Centre will be a new powerhouse of social science research and action for accelerating a fair and equitable transformation into a low carbon society. The launch event will bring together community leaders, businesses, public sector representatives, and government officials with an interest in low-carbon living to share strategies, facilitate networking and explore partnership opportunities with the JUST Centre. Register for the JUST Centre launch.
Language research to address regional and global challenges
1 April, 4pm — 6:30pm, Nexus (University of Leeds)
This Language@Leeds showcase will bring together academics and professionals from across the private and public sectors to explore how innovative language research can inform and inspire solutions to pressing societal issues. The event will dive into research from across disciplines that addresses inclusivity, accessibility, and reducing inequities through education. There will also be a panel discussion, poster session and networking. Find out more or register.
News in brief
Lessons from engaging with parliamentarians
In our new blog, we share learning from two academic teams who recently attended Parliamentary Evidence Week to share their research on school attendance and regional climate action with parliamentarians.
Read ‘Lessons from engaging with parliamentarians at Parliamentary Evidence Week’
Recalibrating research-policy engagement for a new Government
Colleagues from the Government Office for Science, Leeds City Council, Yorkshire Universities, and Pagefield shared insights at our January ‘policy projects networking event’ into what the new Government’s missions, devolution agenda, and expectations for universities mean for research-policy engagement.
Read more in our blog ‘Recalibrating research-policy engagement for a new Government’.
More work needed on children’s supervised toothbrushing programmes
A team of researchers from the Universities of Leeds and Sheffield have completed a survey of supervised toothbrushing programmes currently available to children in England. They found that the number of programmes has increased since their last survey in April 2022 — but also identified several barriers preventing schools, nurseries and other organisations from setting them up. These barriers, they advise, must be overcome to successfully tackle childhood tooth decay. Read the news story on the supervised toothbrushing programmes.
Bill on debt relief for developing countries presented in Parliament
Karina Patrício (School of Law) co-produced the ‘UK Debt Relief (Developing Countries) bill’ with colleagues from the University of Warwick and Debt Justice. The bill was put forward by Bambos Charalambous MP and debated by MPs in early February. It is due a second reading in the House of Commons on 14 March. Find out more about the debate.
Postgraduate researcher to complete prestigious internship with Senedd
Emma Brewis (School of Politics and International Studies) has secured a place on the prestigious UKRI Policy Internships scheme.
Beginning in September 2025 and lasting for three months, Emma will be working on the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee as part of the research team at the Welsh Parliament, producing briefings for ministers, answering research enquiries from elected members, and writing articles for their website. Find out more about Emma’s internship.
Article, blogs and papers
- Rethinking retrofit: Relational insights for the design of residential energy efficiency policy. Lucie Middlemiss, Mark Davis, Anne Owen, Stephen Hall, Ruth Bookbinder and colleagues from Universities of Strathclyde and Sussex investigate a ‘relational’ approach for rethinking assumptions about the retrofit customer journey and policy framework.
- German election: why most political parties aren’t talking about the climate crisis. Vera Trappman co-authors this blog that discusses voter scepticism about the need for far-reaching climate policies.
- Reducing emissions from food — citizens speak up. Blog, co-authored by Alice Garvey, discusses imposing dietary changes for health and sustainability.
- Reintroducing wolves to Scottish Highlands could help address climate emergency. Researchers from the School of Earth and Environment led a study on the potential impact of a predator–prey model in the Scottish Highlands.
- Hedges capture more carbon than grassland — study. Pippa Chapman and her research cited in this BBC news article.
- Partnerships tackling sexual violence. Anna Barker speaks about her work on making parks safer for women and girls as part of panel with Tracey Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire.
- Rethinking Parliaments with Cristina Leston-Bandeira. Conversation covers legislative modernization, the future of parliaments, citizen engagement, and the role of AI in democracy.
- The former fracking site now tapped for clean geothermal heat. Fleur Loveridge interviewed about the potential for geothermal energy in North Yorkshire town.
Researcher opportunities
Protocols for influencing policy — in conversation with Mark Reed
10 April, 2pm — 3:30pm, Online
LSSI will host this event with the author of ‘The Researcher’s Guide to Influencing Policy’, Mark Reed. Attendees will explore key themes and sharpen their policy engagement skills. Register for ‘Protocols for influencing policy’.
Mark recently featured on podcast episode for Research Culture Uncovered where he shares more about his experiences, the transformative power of research impact and the role it plays in shaping research culture. To find out more, tune in to Episode 1 of ‘Research Impact Heroes: Insights from Professor Mark Reed’.
PhD opportunity — investigating the social value of public food procurement, with Leeds City Council and Foodwise
Apply for this fully funded PhD opportunity exploring how public food procurement in Leeds can support healthier communities, local economies, and sustainability. You’ll work with Leeds City Council and Foodwise to expand the focus of public procurement beyond financial value, investigating how food systems’ economic frameworks can also strengthen social and environmental wellbeing. Deadline 14 March. Find out more and apply.
PhD opportunity — investigating Anchor Institutions and Economic Resilience, with Leeds City Council
Apply for this fully funded PhD opportunity, working with Leeds City Council to understand the impact of local procurement driven by Leeds Inclusive Anchors Network (local government, NHS hospitals, universities, housing associations and large private sector organisations) in co-creating economic resilience to allow a more equal and thriving Leeds city. Deadline 14 March. Find out more and apply.
Do you have Leeds facing policy news, opportunities or events to share? Let us know! Email your updates to policyleeds@leeds.ac.uk.
Find more information on policy collaborations from across the University of Leeds on the Policy Leeds website. If you would like to keep in touch with our work between signposts, please connect with us on LinkedIn, or find us on Bluesky.
