Green investment ‘not enough’, MPs say
A committee of MPs has urged the government to prioritise the skills needed to make the transition to a low carbon economy.
In a report published today on green jobs and skills, the environmental audit committee warned that relying exclusively on the market to address skills gaps is causing delays in the drive to green the economy.
It calls for a body to lead the green skills agenda and for low carbon skills to be integrated across education and training initiatives to encourage behavioural change throughout the entire economy.
Employment opportunities in low-carbon industries are significant, it says, but it warns that the government must move quickly to identify those sectors in which the UK can lead.
'There has been discussion and some activity, but the transition is not yet happening,’ the report says. ‘Industry leaders and investors must be reassured that the government is committed to long-term support for low-carbon industries.
'It is actively targeting the renewable energy sector but does not effectively address a transition across the whole economy.’
The report calls for the government's strategy on green jobs to be directly linked to sectoral targets, which have already been identified, and green industries developed to achieve these.
A 'quick win' street-by-street programme of energy saving measures for households must be developed as a priority, it says.
While acknowledging the government's allocation of a significant amount of money for its low carbon industrial strategy and transition plan, it urges the UK to follow the lead of the USA, Japan, Korea and Germany and step up investment in green jobs.
'The scale of this investment is not enough to meet the government's emissions targets nor is it enough to provide the economic advantage needed for the UK to compete at an international level.'
The report comes as the Conservative Party announced the 14 local councils that have agreed to pilot its ‘green deal’ scheme. The programme will give 3m homes the right to have home energy efficiency improvements of up to £6,500 in value.
by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
