Disruption expected as climate change protesters prepare to block Leeds road

The group Extinction Rebellion are behind the plans

Author: Ben BasonPublished 3rd May 2019

There could be trouble on the roads today as climate change protesters bring disruption to Leeds city centre.

The local brach of Extinction Rebellion, who were behind recent protests in London, are stopping traffic for short periods this morning.

It's all to raise awareness of environmental problems - and comes after Leeds City Council declared a 'Climate Emergency'.

Hawk Howard's one of the organisers of the demo here in Leeds - he says it's really important:

"I've realised recently how many people I speak to who aren't aware of the serious situation we're in. It's just really about trying to almost force them to think about that situation - the rising climate, the rising sea temperatures, the melting of the ice in the Arctic.

"We are in the midst of the sixth mass extinction - that's terrifying. And we continue day-to-day as if everything's normal. People might never come across a group of individuals who've stopped their car getting to work like this. And I think it's just to really highlight how serious the situation is.

"I am really sorry we're disrupting you going about your day. We're just really trying to give everybody a chance to think and understand the seriousness of the sitation. If you get annyed by our seven minute disruption, I'm sure you'll be much more annoyed at mass extinction."

Campaigners are due to block traffic for seven minutes at a time from 11am onwards this morning.

It's not clear yet which road the protesters will target.