MP, Labour's Shadow Business
Secretary and , Labour’s Shadow
Chancellor have today launched a consultation on how
to help the UK make a green and just economic recovery from the
Coronavirus crisis.
Over the next few weeks Labour is encouraging businesses,
sector associations, unions, workers, green campaign groups and
the public to submit ideas to its consultation to explore what a
green recovery should look like, with a green jobs plan to
counteract unemployment, stimulate the economy and invest in
green industries of the future.
The UK needs a Green New Deal to ensure there are jobs for
those displaced by the crisis and that our recovery builds an
environmentally sustainable economy.
The government must take an active role to
ensure workers in jobs of all skill levels can
be reskilled, retrained and redeployed to enable them to work to
accelerate progress towards the UK’s climate commitments and
place the UK economy as a world-leader in green
technologies.
The consultation, which will run until the end of June,
will involve virtual round tables with industry and experts, as
well as town hall style engagement events online with
environmental groups, and the public to get their views.
These responses will form the basis of Labour’s plan for a
green economic recovery.
Commenting on the launch of the
consultation, MP, Labour's Shadow Business
Secretary, said:
“This is a moment of profound economic distress for the
country. People are losing their jobs at an alarming rate in the
midst of the biggest recession for 300 years.
“We need a zero carbon army, helping all workers. There is
so much work to be done, from home energy insulation to designing
and producing zero emission vehicles to renewable energy
production to reforesting and improving our green spaces and
redesigning and improving our towns and cities.”
“This rapid consultation will seek views on specific
measures that can be taken now to kick start a green recovery. We
know that this work needs to be done if we are to meet our
climate objectives.”
, Labour’s Shadow
Chancellor, said:
“While the current recession is the deepest and widest in
hundreds of years, the long-term costs of failing to deal with
the climate crisis also pose grave risks for our economy. We must
ensure that the recovery builds back better.
“Public funds must be focused on sustaining and promoting
employment, especially in those areas which are already
struggling; and meeting our climate and environmental
commitments. I would urge anyone who feels they have solutions to
these enormous challenges to contribute to this
consultation”
, Shadow Work and
Pensions Secretary, said:
"In order to alleviate the long-term impact of this crisis
on jobs and families, the Government is going to need to take an
active role to get people back to work and to create the
opportunities for that to happen. This is why we need an
ambitious green recovery."
ENDS
Notes to Editors
1. With the
prospect of the biggest recession for 300 years, and a feared 1
million people out of work in the coming months.
2. The
consultation will be run through Labour’s National Policy Forum
and will be taking submissions until June 30th. It
can be accessed here: https://labour.org.uk/page/green-recovery-consultation/
3. Labour are
seeking specific proposals on the following:
How jobs can be retained, supported and created in the
green economy of the future
Helping businesses transition to a green economy as part of
the recovery
Focusing public and private investment on green
technologies, research and innovation
Redeploying and retraining people from industries where
people have lost their jobs
Rewilding, reforesting and restoring natural spaces
4. These
submissions will also be sent to Labour's Energy, Environment and
Culture Policy Commission to feed in to our broader consultation
on the principles that will guide our energy and environment
policy in the coming years.
5. Submissions
to the consultation are encouraged from a wide range of voices
including industry, trade unions, councils, environmental groups
and the public.
6. Two hundred
major firms have called for a green recovery as well as
investment in low carbon technologies and job creation in areas
to decarbonise our economy https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52851185
