Miliband says consensus possible between need for green energy and concerns over land use

His comments came in response to questions around the balance between the need to build green energy infrastructure and the need to preserve natural spaces.

The Yorkshire region is home to a number of proposed schemes including wind and solar farms which have received criticism from locals for their potential impacts on nature.

Mr Miliband said: “I think overall, I believe we can be pro nature and pro clean energy. And indeed, I think the two go together.

“The biggest threat we face to nature and biodiversity is the climate crisis. If you look at what is already happening this spring, you see record amounts of solar, record amounts of offshore wind. That is incredibly important in us playing our part in tackling the biggest threat to nature that exists.

“That's the first thing. Secondly, we are determined to make sure that energy infrastructure is done in a way that advances and is positive for nature.

“There's a whole series of things, from biodiversity net gain to the Marine Recovery Fund, all of that is about making sure that we do better by nature as we build clean energy infrastructure.”

Biodiversity net gain refers to a policy in which all developments, including green energy schemes, must achieve a minimum 10 per cent increase in biodiversity compared to pre-development levels.

Announced early this year and paid for by offshore wind developers, the Marine Recovery Fund is also designed to pay for measures which will restore and protect marine habitats.

Mr Miliband added that he believed the country’s current means of energy production pose one of the biggest threats to nature, stating: “We can’t carry on as we are.”

He said: “If we remain dependent on fossil fuel, it’s not just bad for energy security, but is also just incredibly threatening to our countryside and to biodiversity.”

A proposed solar farm in Doncaster and proposed wind farm in Calderdale are amongst schemes in the region which locals have raised concerns around, including the loss of countryside land for locals to enjoy and impacts on biodiversity and natural habits.

Mr Miliband said that it was “important that local people have a chance to have their say” on such schemes, adding: “I want to sort of reassure people on this. We take these issues incredibly seriously.” His comments came during a visit to Walkley Primary School in Sheffield, where Mr Miliband met with the school’s Pupils' Executive School Council and its Eco Team.

Mr Miliband also gave his further backing to the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield airport.

Answering a question on how this aligned with his ambitions for reducing the country’s emissions, he said: “What’s important is that aviation has to operate within limits.

“We now have carbon budgets in this country, like we have financial budgets, and aviation has to operate within those budgets.

“People need to be able to continue to fly for reasons of business and travel and all of those other things. So it’s about doing it within a framework, and I think it’s quite important that regional airports are protected.

“It can’t all be about London, and so it’s got to be done in a balanced way. I’ve always felt it’s absolutely consistent to support the aspirations of my constituents and people across South Yorkshire in reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport.”

It came as Mr Miliband also accused Reform UK of “betraying” the people of South Yorkshire, after its councillors called for a meeting to reconsider the approval of a vital £57m loan for the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

Mr Farage has insisted that his party support reopening the airport. Speaking to reporters in Barnsley last week, he said that “of course” the councillors want to reopen the site, “but what they don’t want is masses more debt”.