Acting on climate change is also an opportunity to improve the prosperity and opportunity across the country and the county. It can revitalise our economy and grow new jobs.
Between 2020-21 the number of full-time workers in England’s low-carbon and renewable energy economy increased by 16.4%, from 212,600 to 247,400. ‘In 2030 across England there could be as many as 694,000 direct jobs employed in the low-carbon and renewable energy economy, rising to over 1.18 million by 2050.’
Growth and the economy are a key component of the transition towards more sustainable buildings, infrastructure and transport. To attract the talent and residents of the future, we need to clearly identify the sectors which we wish to grow and develop in Gloucestershire. For climate change a key gap in delivering our ambitions on sustainable products and services, is the availability of local skills to deliver these.
In particular for Gloucestershire- it’s been highlighted in research from GFirst LEP and the South West Net Zero Hub that we don’t currently have the skills available locally to support the growth in retrofit and green energy installation roles. This needs to be addressed strategically.