CLIMATE campaigners rode into Doncaster on their bikes to try to persuade Doncaster North MP Ed Miliband that coal is not the answer to Britain's energy needs.
Cyclists from the Coal Caravan met with Polly Billington, an adviser to the Energy and Climate Change Minister, after he announced the Government intends to go ahead with a new generation of coal-fired power stations using carbon capture and storage.
They met outside Doncaster Minster and gave her a copy of Technofixes: A Critical Guide to Climate Change Technologies which catalogues reasons why carbon capture and storage technology will not save humanity from self-destruction.
A spokesman for the campaigners said: "Ed Miliband is not listening to the mass protests against expansion of coal. We wish he would listen to his constituents who are at risk of increased flooding and environmental disruption.
"One thing we did learn from the Doncaster floods is that climate change also disrupts power supply and if we want to 'keep the lights on' we need to think about a sensible and sustainable energy supply.
"The alternative renewable technologies exist now, and offer masses of opportunity in places like Doncaster which could be at the centre of a transition to clean green energy."
The cyclists stopped off in Doncaster on a 250-mile tour from the East Midlands to Northumberland linking areas threatened by opencast mining and the expansion of the coal industry.
Afterwards Mr Miliband said he was keen to listen to people who care about climate change and want urgent action on the issue and was sorry he could not meet the members of the Coal Caravan in person to be able to discuss their concerns.
He added: "The plan to commit the UK to lead the world in demonstrating carbon capture and storage technology that I outlined last week has been welcomed by many organisations who are worried about the impact of coal on climate change, and I will continue to engage with those groups when the full consultation is launched.
"Towns like Doncaster are set to benefit from the transition to a low carbon economy, not least in the development of a carbon capture and storage industry. Research suggests there could be 50,000 jobs over the next 20 years in carbon abatement technologies."
What do you think? Add your comment below.Buy The Star - Monday to Saturday - for local news, sport, features and ads. To subscribe CLICK HEREREAD MOREMain news indexYour lettersFeaturesSouth Yorkshire's environmental newsKids ZoneMore business newsMore Rotherham newsMore Doncaster newsMore Barnsley newsLatest sport
