Groundwork: next government must prioritise green jobs

07/04/2010

Trainees Groundwork has called on the next government to make creating green jobs for a low carbon economy its priority

Leading environmental regeneration charity Groundwork has today called upon the next government to make creating green jobs for a low carbon economy its priority.

With unemployment and climate change both featuring prominently in all of the major political parties election pledges, there is an opportunity for the next government to make the link between economic development and energy efficiency said Groundwork - by investing in youth employment schemes that put them at the forefront of the emerging ‘green collar’ sector.

Groundwork’s chief executive, Tony Hawkhead, said: “Whichever party wins the election must consider its options to find a green way to bolster the health of our economy. One way of the economic crisis is to kick-start a programme of investment and the creation of green jobs.

“This approach is backed by policymakers from across the political spectrum, yet accounts for only a tiny fraction of government investment.

“The two areas are entirely interconnected for Groundwork, which works with deprived communities throughout the country, as providing our young people with 'green skills' will enable them to join the low carbon workforce of tomorrow.”

Groundwork specifically calls for:

An urgent government-led national programme of retro-fitting houses to reduce emissions and create housing that will be resilient to climate change, bringing the private, public and third sectors together to ensure maximum take-up.
The Government finds cost-effective ways of increasing green space, tree cover and green roofs across the UK - particularly in areas prone to flooding.
The Government invests in community support programmes which help people understand their impact on the climate and offer practical help to live differently. This approach must be based on understanding people’s motivations and capitalising on existing community networks.
The right conditions be created for a network of independent energy advisers to be established, experienced at working with communities, who could help facilitate a mass take-up of energy saving measures, making homes warmer and better insulated and have a dramatic effect on fuel poverty.
More to be done to skill up young people for a low carbon future by creating green apprenticeships, which champion these roles and raise their profile with young people. Green jobs help people contribute to their communities as well as moving the UK towards a low carbon economy.

For further information, contact:

Garry Campbell, Media & PR Officer, 0121 237 5811/07703 535841.
Daisy Powell, PR & Public Affairs Manager: 0121 237 5816/07966 726308

Groundwork Manifesto 2010

We spend a lot of time feeding back knowledge gleaned from our work with the communities we serve to politicians from all the major parties and this year we decided to encapsulate what we felt by putting together our own Groundwork Manifesto. It focuses on 5 key areas for improvement:

Communities: All political parties express their commitment to give more control over local services to local people. This principle is to be warmly welcomed but it needs to be accompanied by the right kind of support to help communities make the most of these opportunities, particularly in areas where there is greatest need and, usually, least capacity.

Retrofitting: More than a quarter of all carbon emissions are generated by our homes and, with more than four million people now facing fuel poverty, it’s time we took coordinated action to ensure everyone has a warm, insulated home and to allow people to reduce their domestic carbon emissions. Our current reliance on market incentives and energy providers to reduce emissions will not achieve the UK’s legally binding targets.

Changing behaviour: People need help to take the practical action needed to tackle climate change and energy consumption. There is strong evidence to suggest that working with people in groups is one of the most powerful ways of achieving lasting change. The third sector is already working out in the communities, schools, businesses and other organisations to help change behaviours and limit personal environmental impacts, but much more of that is needed.

Low carbon economy: One way out of the economic crisis is to kick-start a green economy through programmes of investment and the creation of green jobs. This approach is backed by policymakers from across the political spectrum, yet it accounts for only a tiny fraction of government investment.

Young people: With the country struggling to emerge from recession and the next generation by turns pilloried and praised in the media, there has never been a more challenging time to be young. With the right support and encouragement, young people can be positive agents of change in their neighbourhoods. We need to trust, empower and enable this passionate and formidable force for good.