Committee report highlights just how far the govt is from getting it right on green jobs

Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee has today published a report into Green Jobs that criticises the government for failing to take sufficient action on the issue.

The report points to good work from government and its Green Jobs Taskforce in setting the groundwork for 2m green jobs by 2030 but says that a detailed plan is required to actually get there. The report says that despite announcements promising millions of pounds for green jobs initiatives, the government has yet to define what a “green job” actually is and how the vacancies are to be filled.

Skills is one of the areas the identified as requiring most work, as well as making sure that areas which currently rely on high energy jobs do not get left behind as we transition to a new economy.

Sue Ferns, senior deputy general secretary of Prospect, said:

“Ensuring that people have the skills and decent jobs to thrive is a key part of levelling-up the economy and a just transition to a Net Zero. This report highlights just how far the government is from getting this right.

“The report builds on the cross-party consensus of the Green Jobs Taskforce that looked at how business, communities and trade unions can work together to deliver ambitious change.

“We need immediate action to ensure we develop sufficient skills to match the needs of the future, and to avoid hardwiring inequality into the green economy.

“There will be no just transition or political dividend on levelling-up for the government unless we make sure quality green British jobs are at the heart of our plans.”