State of Sheffield Report 2010 - The Environment Overview

The primary cause of climate change is the burning of carbon-based fuels and the
emission of other greenhouse gases. Sheffield’s carbon emissions equate to 6.5 tonnes
of carbon dioxide per person per year.

Sheffield’s climate is now changing faster than it has at any time during the last 125 year
period. The current mean annual temperature has risen by 1 degree Celsius over the
past hundred years.

Mean annual rainfall has increased over the last 100 years, but the mean annual hours of
bright sunshine have also increased.

The UK is a net importer of coal and gas and is vulnerable to: the volatility of countries
supplying those fuels; fluctuating international prices; and future shortages. There are
therefore political, economic and social arguments for reducing Sheffield’s reliance upon
such non-renewable forms of energy.

Historical air problems in the city were largely due to heavy industry, coal burning and
local power stations. This has changed. Nitrogen dioxide and PM10 (poisonous
particulates) are the new problem pollutants. Traffic in Sheffield contributes about 70%
of the nitrogen dioxide emitted locally.

People in the Northern, South, Central and South West community assembly areas are
better informed about climate change than those in other areas and they are more likely
to take action to tackle climate change.

In 2009/10 Sheffield produced 218,000 tonnes of household waste and an estimated

675,000 tonnes of business waste, which were collected in the city. Most general
household waste is sent to the Energy Recovery Facility meaning that Sheffield’s amount
of landfill is very low compared to that of other cities.

Currently only 6% of surface waterbody length in the catchment area rivers and canals is
achieving ‘good’ status.

One sixth of the Sheffield urban area is publicly accessible urban green and open space.
65% of people are satisfied with the city’s parks and gardens.

 A changing climate, with an increasing mean annual temperature.

 Carbon emissions are an issue, but 75% of people in Sheffield have made a
commitment to reduce these.
 Sheffield’s rural area covers 14,000 hectares of the Peak District National Park.
 Sheffield has 3,885 hectares of urban open space and park land.