CORPORATE STRATEGY
Jobs
WHERE THE
WORK IS
The economic crises is decimating
Green Party. But these cuts look imminent,
workforces around the world. But,
T
he recession has been called the “down-
side of globalisation” as the crisis began and it is not only the Greater London
in the United States, the most powerful Authority that is tightening its purse strings
out of the blackness, a huge
nation in the world. A knock-on effect was and consequentially trimming back its envi-
demand is growing for climate seen in all the major economies. The collapse ronmental spend.
change and carbon-reduction
of global giants such as Lehman Brothers, Government advisory body WRAP pro-
services. And with this comes new
Wachovia, Washington Mutual and other vides resource efficiency advice for businesses
household names has seen the US unemploy- and households, and is now to become the
jobs – as the government aims to
ment figure rise above 7%, with more than ten only body to deliver government-funded
create a green economy that will million Americans out of work. recycling and waste programmes. Businesses
pull us out of the recession,
Despite the obvious effect on many individ- will feel the impact of this change, as 30% of
uals, one of the most unpredictable effects will its funding is being cut – from £59M to
writes John Haven
be that of job losses around the globe. The US £43.2M – along with 31 redundancies made
saw 524,000 job cuts in December 2008 alone. this year already. The expansion was supposed
Across the UK, we have also experienced to make it easier for businesses to access green
substantial job cuts and many environmental advice and support, but there may be addi-
initiatives and developments put on hold or tional job cuts, less services provided and a fall
abandoned. In January, London mayor Boris in the overall WRAP budget.
Johnson cancelled the Green Homes Service – The construction industry has been hit
a scheme committed to insulation and renew- hard too, as the housing market has plummet-
able energy in homes. This would have creat- ed – with 50,000 job losses in 2008. A
ed many green roles in and around the total of between 7.5% and 8% of the total
London area. The GLA also workforce in the UK have lost their jobs in
announced a further £10M cut to this market, including a high number of
the London Cycle Network Plus, environmental monitors, construction
which looked to improving the waste managers and land condition
safety of cyclists and encourag- experts. The unseen effect here was
ing cycling in an effort to that of the diminished cascade to
reduce carbon emissions. the lower margin consultan-
The restructuring cies who support the vari-
ous developments, but
for whom the previ-
ous abundance
of work has
dried up.
So how
can we be
positive about
the environmen-
tal sector given all
City Hall this doom and gloom?
project was put on hold In the current crisis, it is
with no less than 50 jobs hard to stay optimistic with
being lost in the process. only 21% of CEOs confident
Protests over potential redun- their business will grow. The decrease
dancies have come from the in confidence has changed attitudes
22 June 2009 ❘ Sustainable Business
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36