Business Secretary Peter Mandelson’s speech to the Cumbria Economic Forum on 25th February had a distinctly green flavour. It’s encouraging to see that green initiatives, and particularly the transformation of industrial jobs into greener careers, are on the agenda, and particularly, that this comes from the business secretary. It all adds weight to the argument that greening our way out of recession is the way forward.
Addressing the delegates, Mandy said that the recession gives Britain a great opportunity to “ask fundamental questions about how we will make our living in the global economy of the twenty-first century.” This is something that has been echoed by environmentalists, historians, economists and politicians alike; the time for a new, greener economic system has come. Mandelson went on to say that the UK is “on the edge of a new low carbon industrial revolution,” and that “the shift to low-carbon technologies and production will transform how we live and work.”
These are all fine words that have been said before, but where is the action plan? As has been said on this blog before, there needs to be a consistent and nationwide effort to establish environmental initiatives and create green jobs across the board. It looks, from Mandelson’s speech, to be on the cards:
“In the first week of March at a Low Carbon summit in London the Government will begin to set out a national vision for the transition to low carbon,” Mandelson said, “not just as an environmental and economic imperative, but as a huge economic opportunity for the UK.”
Naturally the main focus of the speech was on the economic benefit of greener industry. Mandelson went so far as to say that Britain is one of the world’s “most competitive suppliers of low-carbon technologies”, and that the task now is to ensure that the UK is at the forefront to supply these technologies and services as the market for them goes global.
Mandelson emphasised the commitment European countries have made to reducing carbon emissions by 20% in the next 11 years, and went on to state that the government will be providing various support resources for British homes, businesses and transport to make the shift to renewable energy and sustainable development.
From that promise of support comes a lot of potential. Not only has the government plans to provide support in going green, which will create hundreds of green jobs, but it also has the potential to make many traditionally industrial or environmentally harmful jobs in construction and transport more efficient, and thus greener. Let’s hope they keep those promises!
Author and resource box
Rachel Charman, a writer for JuicyJobs Ethical Jobs UK – an environmentally friendly green job search board which offers free job listings to Environmental, NGO’s, NFP’s and ethical companies promoting green, fair trade services and support sustainable living. For job seekers Juicyjobs can help you find the ideal ethical jobs in London.
