P


lans to transition to what some call the ‘green economy’ have long been on the agenda for many


countries but it requires a workforce with the right skills, said experts at a Westminster Energy, Environment & Transport Forum. This includes not only skills in


the low carbon and environmental goods and services sector, but skills to help businesses use natural resources more efficiently and sustainably and to be resilient to climate change. Eager to demonstrate the significance of the UK’s green economy was Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, former Minister of State for the Department of Energy, Security and Net Zero. “We should be in no doubt


about how important this is for the economy more generally and for meeting our net zero targets. To put it in perspective, the CBI recently produced a paper on the contribution of the green economy which sets out how it has become a powerhouse for job creation and economic expansion. It showed a 10.1% growth in the total economic value supported by the net zero economy since 2023. When you factor in supply chain activities, the sector’s economic impact skyrockets to £83.1 billion, supporting nearly 951,000 jobs in the UK.” The CBI’s report has been


hugely reinforced by the Clean Energy Jobs Plan, added Hunt, which sets out how the government will work in partnership with industry and trade unions. “The clean energy transition


is defining economic opportunity in the 21st century. The UK is in a good position, but compared to


some countries, we could do better. In 2023, Germany had almost three times as many renewable energy jobs per capita as the UK and our investment is falling back. We’ve got a solid foundation. We need to press on further and faster and a huge amount of work is needed to develop a pipeline of skilled workers that we require,” said Hunt.


GROWING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY The UK has set itself a clear and ambitious course. A legally binding commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050, established under the Climate Change Act, alongside strategic priorities for energy security and decarbonisation. “That challenge is our opportunity to seize,” said Giulia Marzetti, manager of climate and sustainability at Deloitte and European Climate Pact ambassador, European Commission. “Energy stands at the centre of UK decarbonisation, with the aim to switch to low carbon electricity by 2030, boosting energy security, cutting power costs, and meeting climate targets.” Since mid-2024, the UK has


seen over £50 billion in clean energy investment announcements. Just recently, the government announced 8.4 gigawatts of new offshore energy projects, equivalent to powering 12 million homes. “The UK is at the forefront of


energy transition, and at present, I think it’s leading the fight on climate change globally. Transforming the UK energy systems means strategic autonomy and higher resilience to external shocks. Yet, we cannot have an energy transition without


a qualified workforce ready for the green jobs of the future,” she added. Marzetti stated that the net zero


economy is expanding three times faster than the wider economy, driven by clean energy investments, innovation, and the rapid deployment of technologies such as offshore winds, heat pumps, EV infrastructures, and advanced manufacturing. “Clean energy is nowadays one


of the fastest growing employment areas in the UK. The modern industrial strategy gives us a once- in-a-generation opportunity to align economic renewal with environmental responsibility and resilience. By backing clean energy industries, advanced manufacturing, and the circular economy, the industrial strategy lays the foundation for hundreds of thousands of new green jobs. To support this, the Clean Energy Job Plan aims to boost the industry green workforce, adding over 400,000 new jobs by 2030.” Getting down to specifics,


Marzetti detailed some of the skills that are most urgently needed to help strengthen the economy and enhance energy security. “The government has identified


31 priority traits for recruitment and training, with 1,000 more heating engineers, carpenters, and welders needed by 2030. This is a clear blueprint for the jobs underlying the green transition. With the rapidly changing world of work, priority traits should also be aligned with digitalisation and AI fluency to make green jobs truly jobs of the future.” She warned that when we


talk about green jobs, we should not forget jobs in nature, such as conservation, biodiversity, and ecosystem restoration.


35


GLOBAL LEADERSHIP


SUSTAINABILITY


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