United Kingdom: taskforce launched to create 2 million green jobs by 2030

With the United Kingdom, like many other countries, having set a target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, its Green Jobs Taskforce met for the first time on 12 November, the government has announced. Its mission? To support the creation of 2 million long-term good quality green jobs by 2030, to ensure the country has the immediate skills needed for the new era, to build a diverse workforce, and to help workers in high carbon transitioning sectors (oil and gas, for example) to retrain in new green technologies. According to the UK’s business and energy minister Kwasi Kwarteng, co-chair of the taskforce alongside undersecretary of state for apprenticeships and skills Gillian Keegan, the government’s aim is to “build back better and greener from coronavirus”. Currently the taskforce is made up of 19 individuals, including representatives of the Trades Union Congress and the union Prospect as well as representatives of sectoral training bodies (Construction Industry Training Board, Engineering Construction Industry) and employers (Nissan, Tata Steel, BP). The Green Jobs Taskforce will be funded as part of the government’s £200 billion (€222bn) support package to protect jobs amid the health emergency. In the summer the UK government pledged £3 billion (€3.33bn) to creating tens of thousands of green jobs (see article n°12048).