'You can tackle unemployment and create jobs whilst tackling climate change at the same time' - opportunities in Brent

 New research shows that over 1,492 new jobs could be created in Brent Central, 1,401 in Brent North and 1,285  in Hampstead and Kilburn across green infrastructure and care work in the next two years/ten years. 

 

The data, compiled by Green New Deal UK, shows that  Brent Central is likely to suffer over  2,538) permanent job losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Brent North 1,607 and Hampstead and Kilburn 1,738 losses which could be replaced partly by jobs in new and existing industries.

 

The data includes jobs in sectors like solar energy, offshore wind, social care and energy efficiency - all of which are essential to the UK meeting its national and international climate targets. 

 

Such jobs are essential if local councils are to meet their Climate Emergency targets and also to cope with the rising demand for adult social care.

 

Previous research from Green New Deal UK found that 1.2m green jobs could be created throughout Britain in the next two years at a cost of around £68bn - far less than the £100bn infrastructure investment commitment made last year. 

 

This news comes at the same time that the Government has just cut air passenger duty on domestic flights, frozen fuel duty, invested £27 billion in a roads programme, tried to open a new coal mine and cut £1.5 billion from the flagship home energy efficiency programme. 

 

Paul Atkin local organiser, said:

 

Our research shows that you can tackle unemployment and create jobs whilst tackling climate change at the same time. 

 

We know that we can’t afford not to do this. There’s an unemployment crisis and a climate crisis and a Green New Deal can create thousands of good green jobs right here in Brent.  We all know that climate change is going to have a huge impact everywhere and we can’t let people just fall by the wayside.

 

The Government could invest in these green jobs right now to boost our economic recovery but they are refusing to. If you compare what we are spending to France and Germany and the US we are falling behind what is really needed to tackle unemployment and the recession, let alone sort out climate change.