Taskforce to support drive for two million green jobs by 2030

The government has launched a new Green Jobs Taskforce to support the creation of two million skilled jobs to build back greener and reach net zero emissions by 2050.

Chaired by Energy Minister Kwasi Kwarteng and Skills Minister Gillian Keegan, the Taskforce forms part of the government’s ambitious plan to build back greener and achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and will focus on the immediate and longer-term challenges of delivering skilled workers for the UK’s transition to net zero.

This includes ensuring we have the immediate skills needed for building back greener, such as in offshore wind and home retrofitting, and developing a long-term plan that charts out the skills needed to help deliver a net zero economy.

The Green Jobs Taskforce will represent the views of businesses, employees and the skills sectors and includes representatives from the Construction Industry Training Board, Engineering Construction Industry Training Board, East London Institute for Technology, Retrofit Works, Edinburgh University and National Grid.

Kwarteng said: “This government has promised to do all it can to provide good quality, secure work as we build back better and greener from coronavirus. The Green Jobs Taskforce will oversee the UK taking strides towards long-term economic prosperity, as well as transitioning to the new low-carbon green industries of the future.”

Keegan added: “It is now more critical than ever to make sure people get the skills they need to progress and that will help our economy to recover. I am very much looking forward to co-chairing this important taskforce so we can create more, high quality green job opportunities, levelling up our economy and delivering on our commitment to be net zero by 2050.”

The launch of the taskforce builds on the £200 billion support package that has been provided to safeguard jobs in every region and nation of the UK, with support now extended until March 2021.