THE North-East should brace itself for more extreme weather events as a result of climate change, a greenthemed conference has been told.

The Greener Darlington Assembly, set up by the Darlington Partnership, attracted a host of community groups, businesses, statutory agencies and charities.

It was addressed briefly by Energy and Climate Change secretary Ed Miliband MP, via a video message, who spoke about taking decisions to protect the planet for future generations.

At the conference yesterday, in Darlington, Adrian Hilton, the North-East regional climate change co-ordinator, warned of an increase in what he called “highly intense” rainfall events.

Mr Hilton said this would mean areas already vulnerable to flooding would be flooded more frequently, while areas previously unscathed, would also experience problems.

He told the conference that the average temperature in the North-East was likely to rise by two degrees by 2050.

While overall rainfall would fall by five to ten per cent, winter rainfall would increase by up to 20 per cent.

Sea levels were also expected to rise about 30 centimetres by 2050.

Mr Hilton said, despite this, it was still “within the gift”

of the North-East to respond to climate change and its effects.

He added: “I want to ensure that the communities of the North-East are ready and that the infrastructure is resilient and our homes and businesses are resilient to climate change so we don’t all suffer.”

Environmental engineer Paul Hayes, of Darlingtonbased diesel engine maker Cummins, detailed how the firm had made a number of savings which had benefited the environment and cut its carbon footprint by 25 per cent.

Mr Hayes said Cummins had saved £37,000 by simply switching off all unnecessary equipment over a two-week Christmas period.

He said: “Many small steps will make one big change.”

Darlington Councillor Nick Wallis, vice-chairman of the Greener Darlington Theme Group, who explained efforts aimed at recycling half of Darlington’s household waste by 2010, said the council had to demonstrate its commitment to the environment and achieving sustainability.