Four of the UK’s biggest unions are today calling on the
government to bring forward a hydrogen strategy to create and
sustain thousands of green jobs.
UNISON, Unite, GMB and Prospect have backed calls by
cross-industry group Hydrogen Strategy Now for the Chancellor to
lay the foundations of a UK-wide hydrogen strategy, which they
believe will generate jobs and support economic
growth.
The four unions, which collectively represent 200,000
workers in the energy sector, say in a joint
letter to that they believe hydrogen is
key to the UK becoming decarbonised.
They say the adoption of a hydrogen strategy would be a
significant contribution towards the UK achieving its net zero
targets by 2050, “whilst at the same time sustaining and creating
high quality jobs and supporting economic growth in all parts of
the country”.
Signed by the general secretaries of the four unions – Dave
Prentis, Len McCluskey, Mike Clancy and John Phillips – the
letter states: “We can look across the world and see other
nations bringing forward multi-billion pound, job-creating
hydrogen strategies. The UK cannot afford to risk being left
behind and failure would result in the UK not meeting its net
zero obligation and a loss of high skilled and quality
jobs.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
There are 41 businesses backing Hydrogen Strategy Now,
which employ around 100,000 people and have a value of £100bn in
the UK. They are ready to invest up to £1.5bn in hydrogen
projects and create thousands of jobs across the
country.
They believe a UK-wide hydrogen economy will:
-
Create and sustain hundreds of thousands of
high-skilled, green jobs, in all parts of the country and in
alignment with the government’s ‘levelling-up’
agenda
-
Drive progress to net zero and improve air quality in
towns and cities
-
Secure private investment into the UK, and unlock
export opportunities for products and skills
-
Increase energy security by making fuller use of the
UK’s natural resources.
The businesses in the campaign are: Adelan, Air Products,
Alstom, Anglo American, Arcola, Arup, Ballard, BayoTech, BCGA,
BOC, Bosch, Bramble, Cadent, EDF, ENA, Energy UK, Enterprise,
Equinor, EUA, Green Tomato Cars, ITM, JCB, Johnson Matthey, Kiwa,
Nel, Orsted, Riversimple, Ryse, Siemens, SMMT, Storengy, UK
H2Mobility, UKHFCA, ULEMCo, Uniper, Vattenfall, Wales & West
Utilities, Waste2Tricity, Wrightbus, WSP, Ulemco.
