Group for Action of Leeds Bradford Airport (GALBA) joined the COP26 Day of Action protests in Glasgow at the weekend and called for action against airport expansions in the UK.
If just one return flight from the UK to New York emits as much greenhouse gas as the average British household does in a whole year, why are we still expanding airports?
That's just one of the limitless questions that climate activists around the country have been asking this week.
The COP26 brought leaders and protesters around the world for a week of climate change conflict and is now entering into its second week in the city.
Whilst searching for efficient new technologies to make the aviation industry a greener environment at the UN Climate Conference, the government has been criticised for greenwashing.
The government spoke out about their 'techno-centric' Jet Zero strategy, explaining its importance in reducing emissions across the UK.
According to GALBA, the group protesting against the expansion of Leeds Bradford Airport, this announcement was despite Climate Change Committee members "repeatedly warned that because there is no realistic prospect of international flying becoming zero carbon by 2050".
GALBA has been protesting, virtually and in person, against the expansion of Leeds Bradford Airport due to environmental damage. / Image: GALBA
The group believes that the government needs to implement ‘demand control’ measures, including an immediate halt on all UK airport expansion plans.
In protest, demonstrations at airports across the UK took place, including Doncaster-Sheffield, Manchester, and Leeds Bradford Airport.
Chris Foren, chair of GALBA, said: “The government and the aviation industry claim that new technology means we can carry on flying as much as we like despite the climate crisis. It’s deeply irresponsible to spread these false claims.
"The experts on the Climate Change Committee warn that such a ‘techno-centric' approach has a high risk of failure. New aircraft designs and alternative fuels are decades away from making a dent in the huge amount of greenhouse gas emissions caused by international flying".
The day of protest will not be the last of the GALBA group, as the protesters want to ensure that Leeds Bradford Airport capacity does not grow from 4 to 7 million, as current plans suggest.
For more information on the Leeds Bradford Airport expansion and the protesters opposing the plans, visit the GALBA website.
After closing for the entire second day, The Warehouse stage at Leeds Festival has once again been forced to evacuate.
One of the most anticipated dance acts of the day has been cancelled due to health and safety concerns just moments before the set.
Sheffield DJ Silva Bumpa was due to take to The Warehouse stage today at 1:30pm, but the set was cancelled due to overcrowding.
It's not the first time this has happened at Leeds Festival 2026, as yesterday Omar+'s set was cancelled due to the same issue and the stage was subsequently closed for the rest of the day.
The Warehouse stage is completely new for this year, and supposedly is designed specifically for dance music...which is quite ironic.
Announcing the news to Instagram, Silva Bumpa said: "So so sorry Leeds Fest but due to over crowding my set was cancelled last min I was just behind the stage and got told right before such a massive shame."
Prospa, another prominent DJ who's set was cancelled at Reading on Friday afternoon, spoke up on the situation: "We are disappointed in The Warehouse stage closure at Reading Festival. We were told it wasn't possible to play whilst on the way. This was due to too many people outside the stage.
"We have seen this happen before at larger festivals in the UK. It's time to double the capacity of tents or put dance music on the main stage."
It comes after another dance stage, LS23, was closed mid-set last night due to a health and safety hazard when all the lights suddenly switched off and ravers were forced to evacuate.
If yesterday is anything to go by, we wouldn't be surprised if The Warehouse was closed for the rest of the day which means anticipated sets from Rossi and Mall Grab will also be cancelled.
‘Actually lost for words’ – huge artist speaks out as Leeds Festival set is cancelled due to overcrowding
Clementine Hall
For the second day in a row, a huge set has been cancelled due to overcrowding at Reading and Leeds Festival.
Day two of the festival and there's some pretty disappointed ravers hanging their head as one of the biggest dance music sets of the day is cancelled.
Omar+, a rising British electronic DJ and producer, was due to play on the brand-new Warehouse stage at Reading yesterday and Leeds today.
Yesterday's set was cancelled last minute due to overcrowding, and low and behold the same has happened here in Leeds.
Announcing the sad news to his story, Omar+ said "Actually lost for words. My Leeds set has been cancelled due to overcrowding."
He then went on to show a screenshot of a text message, reading: "I've never seen something like this in my entire life where two shows back to back are cancelled due to overcrowding."
The Warehouse stage is completely new for this year, and supposedly is designed specifically for dance music...which is quite ironic.
Prospa, another prominent DJ who's set was cancelled at Reading yesterday, spoke up on the situation: "We are disappointed in The Warehouse stage closure at Reading Festival. We were told it wasn't possible to play whilst on the way. This was due to too many people outside the stage.
"We have seen this happen before at larger festivals in the UK. It's time to double the capacity of tents or put dance music on the main stage."
It comes after another dance stage, LS23, was closed mid-set last night due to a health and safety hazard when all the lights suddenly switched off and ravers were forced to evacuate.
Sophie Smith -
8th November 2021 
