Why Doncaster is now alongside Australia and Brazil on the frontline of climate change

The Doncaster Climate and Biodiversity Commission says Doncaster is already experiencing the impact of climate change, which is likely to escalate dangerously over the coming years and decades unless fundamental action is taken.

And MP Ed Miliband, who chairs the commission, says local government, businesses, and individuals all have a part to play because of the urgent need to tackle climate change in the next two decades.

Last year Labour-run Doncaster council declared a climate and biodiversity emergency and locally the effects of climate change have included flooding after unusually heavy rainfall and serious wildfires on Hatfield Moors peatlands.

It is estimated that in 2017 Doncaster produced 2,059 kilotonnes of carbon dioxide from activity such as driving vehicles, heating homes and producing electricity.

The report details a plan for Doncaster which includes transitioning towards green transport, and improving energy efficiency in homes.

Arguing that there is a “window of opportunity” for Doncaster to help play a part in international climate change agreements, it says the borough should be ‘net-zero’ in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, ten years ahead of the Government’s own 2050 target.

The report says: "Globally, we are already beginning to notice the impact of a warming climate due to the release into the atmosphere of ‘greenhouse gases’ from human activity - wildfires in California, Australia and Brazil, and melting of polar icecaps being just some examples we see in the news.

"In Doncaster, we have experienced flooding as a result of much greater rainfall in the region than we would expect along with serious wildfires on Hatfield Moors peatlands.

"Local farmers have also reported difficult weather conditions for growing, sometimes experiencing drought when crops need rain to grow, and at other times having too much rain, making harvesting of crops difficult or even impossible. We can anticipate that average rainfalls will continue to increase.

"So while we see evidence that global warming is happening elsewhere around the world, a key finding of the Commission is that Doncaster is already on the frontline of climate change and biodiversity loss."

Mr Miliband, who is also Labour's Shadow Business Secretary, described the report as "an ambitious vision to tackle climate change and make Doncaster more prosperous, with a better quality of life for residents, who’ve already felt the full effects of climate change right here on their doorstep."

He said: “Retrofitting homes with more fuel-efficient heating systems will create jobs as well as lowering household bills.

"Planting trees and rewilding will help to tackle climate change, promote biodiversity and improve the quality of life in our communities.

"We all have a part to play - local government, businesses, and individuals - but crucially this must be backed up by support from national government which is urgently required both to make the green transition and protect our residents from the effects of climate change, through better flood defences."

Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones said: "There are many things we need to make sure happen in Doncaster to improve our climate, including reducing emissions and encouraging active and sustainable travel, improving our air quality, looking after and enhancing our green spaces and expanding our green industries, to name a few.

"There are also changes we can all make in our everyday lives. The small changes we can all make can make a huge difference."