A select number of Yorkshire's youth climate activists that will be attending the COP26 summit to show the world how climate change impacts young people.
As the COP26 kicks off in Glasgow this week, leaders from around the world are discussing what can be done about the climate crisis.
Here in Leeds, we may not have the Greta Thunberg to share inspiring speeches and start a movement against carbon emissions, but we do have young people aplenty that could rival her presentations.
The Regional Youth Climate Assembly (RYCA) for Yorkshire and the Humber are fuelled by young climate activists ready to take the world on.
Inspired by the work of 18-year-old Greta Thunberg, members of these organisations, amongst other enthused teenagers will be travelling to the COP26 to ensure that the message of working locally to solve a global problem is addressed.
Members of the RYCA after their COP26 meeting. / Image: RYCA Official
Many of these activists believe that climate change is one of the most important challenges for young people to navigate.
According to a Bath University study, almost 60% of young people are either very or extremely worried about the climate crisis.
The study of 10,000 people found that over half of participants believe "humanity is doomed" and fuels much of the anxiety and fear within society today.
The RYCA is made up of teenagers from every corner of Yorkshire, with a particularly strong presence in Leeds, Sheffield and Doncaster.
Speaking out about their organisation, representatives have explained that they are not "just the typical A star students". There are plenty of typically disengaged teenage boys that want to get involved and often ask the RYCA how they can make a difference.
The presence of both the RYCA and other local climate activist groups like Youth4Climate Leeds have made Leeds into a prominent city for climate activism, holding strikes and sharing endless petitions online to make the public aware of their responsibility to the planet.
A recent climate emergency strike held by Youth4Climate Leeds. / Image: Youth4Climate Leeds
However past workshops and events will soon be considered a small step compared to the RYCA's venture to the COP26 this week.
The Yorkshire activists will be showing their project entitled 'The Ripple Effect', a film that showcases young people's voices across the world.
The project will allow young people to share their personal experiences of climate change: from the droughts in South Africa to 10-year-olds sharing the life-changing effects of flooding.
Regional climate meetings are more prominent in Yorkshire than any other county, according to the RYCA.
There are currently no similar groups in Cambridgeshire or Kent, areas that have been previously known for activism.
To follow RYCA's journey at the COP26 summit, visit their Instagram page.
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 -
1st November 2021 
