Public to quiz candidates for Mayor on climate plans

Climate campaign charity Hope for the Future are giving the public a chance to ask candidates for South Yorkshire Mayor about their plans to tackle climate breakdown.

Ahead of the election on 6 May, the Climate Hustings will take place on 21 April at Victoria Hall in Sheffield city centre and will also be streamed online.

Research by the campaign has revealed that 50% of people in Yorkshire and Humberside think the government should be doing more to prevent climate breakdown.

"This is a unique and vital opportunity for everyone in the region to ask the candidates how they plan to prioritise climate change if elected as Metro Mayor," said Sarah Jordan, who is director of Hope for the Future and will chair the hustings.

"We are proud to be facilitating this forum for everyone to be able to get their voices heard on climate change."

Labour candidate Oliver Coppard has already said he wants to plant 1.4 million more trees – one for every person in South Yorkshire – while Joe Otten for the Liberal Democrats has promised "warmer homes and better buses."

The Green Party's candidate Bex Whyman has said she wants to see "an insulated Britain, more clean renewable energy and absolutely no fracking."

Simon Biltcliffe for the Yorkshire Party has promised miniature clean air zones around schools and more electric vehicles chargers installed across South Yorkshire.

The Conservatives' Clive Watkinson told Yorkshire Live his campaign will "focus on improving our transport infrastructure, not just in Sheffield, Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham, but across the whole area."

Tickets for the Climate Hustings are free, but attendees are asked to register a place in advance.