Nearly 700,000 jobs could be created by England’s ‘green’ economy by 2030, rising to 1.2 million by 2050, a new LGA report reveals.
The study shows that demand for green jobs will increase rapidly as the UK transitions to a net zero carbon economy and could help counter the unprecedented job losses arising from the pandemic.
The LGA is urging the Government to work with councils to develop post-COVID-19 economic recovery options, including a jobs guarantee programme.
It is also reiterating its long-standing call for national skills and employment schemes and funding to be devolved to councils and combined authorities, enabling them to work with businesses and education providers to train and retrain people of all ages so they can benefit from green growth.
Cllr Sir Richard Leese, Chair of the LGA’s City Regions Board, said: “Councils are driving the climate change agenda at a local level, which is beginning to influence local economic growth plans and skills programmes.
“With its local knowledge and expertise, local government is best placed to ensure the workforce in every region of the country can successfully surf the new wave of employment opportunities. “To help meet national climate change targets and capitalise on the green jobs revolution, councils need to be given long-term funding, devolved powers and easier access to complex government funding pots to help realise the Government’s target of being carbon neutral by 2050.”