Our winters will be warmer and wetter - in Sheffield there is likely to be 14 per cent more winter rainfall - and, if we do not adapt to these climate changes, they will have a catastrophic impact on the region's landscape and wildlife.

That was the warning from leading politicians, environmentalists and lawyers at a climate change conference in Sheffield. The half-day event was organised jointly by the region's leading law firm DLA Piper in conjunction with the Wildlife Trusts in Yorkshire and Humberside.

Click on the green play button to hear some of the speakers at the conference

It attracted business, academic, local government and environmental leaders from across the country who gathered to discuss the challenges posed by climate change, their impact on the natural environment and what steps can be taken to increase nature's resilience to these.

Secretary of State for the Environment Hilary Benn, who outlined the Government's strategy, stressed the importance of world leaders reaching a global deal when they meet at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen at the end of the year.

But Mr Benn told his Sheffield audience that everyone had a part to play in helping to limit the impact of climate change and to stopping it from getting worse. He said: "This is something that everybody has got to be concerned about.

"Here we are in this great city of Sheffield and just look at the changes that the local community has brought about. If our ancestors from 250 years ago turned up to see what had been achieved here they would be astonished."

In Yorkshire and the Humber, the annual average temperature is predicted to rise by 1.9 per cent by 2050, with the summer average temperature likely to increase by 2.5 per cent.

With the urban heat island effect, summer peak temperatures in Sheffield are forecast to go up by 3.2 degrees centigrade, with more heatwaves and droughts. But, the rain that does fall will come in more intensive bursts increasing the risk of flooding.

Nigel Doar and Dr Rob Stoneman, chief executives of Sheffield and Yorkshire Wildlife Trusts outlined a vision for rebuilding the region's natural environment, with the launch of 'A Living Landscape' strategy.

Rob Stoneman, Chief Executive of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust stressed the need for the public and private sector to climate proof every policy and said:

"Climate change is upon us and the region needs a coherent strategy to adapt. Living Landscapes is part of that strategy – a plan that allows wildlife to move, enables our land to cope with extreme events, such as flooding, and builds a higher quality of life for the future."

Leading environmental lawyers Teresa Hitchcock, DLA Piper's Head of Safety, Health and Environment, spoke about climate change adaptation and business opportunities.

Teresa, who is based in the Sheffield office of DLA Piper, said: "We are delighted that the city of Sheffield hosted such an important event which attracted such a high-calibre platform.

"Environmental issues are as relevant now as they have ever been, even in the current economic situation. Managing climate change will bring many associated risks and costs to businesses, so learning how to minimise these will be key to a sound economic and ecologic future.

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