Plans to create thousands of
new jobs to kickstart the nation’s green recovery from the
coronavirus pandemic were unveiled by the government
today.
The £40 million Green Recovery Challenge Fund
will bring forward funding to help charities and environmental
organisations start work on projects across England to restore
nature and tackle climate change.
The fund will help conservation organisations
and their suppliers create up to 3,000 jobs and safeguard up to
2,000 others in areas such as protecting species, finding
nature-based solutions to tackling climate change, conservation
rangers and connecting people with the outdoors.
Environment Secretary said:
“Our ambitious green recovery package will
deliver a steady stream of shovel-ready environmental projects,
protecting nature at the same time as creating and retaining
thousands of new jobs.
“Many of us have become even more appreciative
of nature during lockdown and our Green Recovery Challenge Fund
will help charities and other organisations employ more people to
work on tree-planting, nature restoration and helping the public
enjoy the outdoors.”
The Green Recovery Challenge Fund will be
funded by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs by bringing forward £10 million of money from the Nature
Recovery Fund and £30 million of Nature for Climate Funding, so
that the money can be spent now when it is most needed.
It is envisaged that the fund will create a
broad range of short and long term jobs such as ecologists,
surveyors, nature reserve staff and education workers in
environment organisations; and support their suppliers in areas
such as agricultural engineering, horticulture, and equipment and
seed supply.
Organisations will be invited to bid to the
fund and details will be set out in due course.
Natural England Chair Tony Juniper
said:
“Coronavirus has shown us even more starkly
how vital access to a thriving natural environment is to
everybody’s health and wellbeing. This new fund will kick start
nature’s recovery by building partnerships across the country, in
towns and cities and in rural areas.
“It’s also an unprecedented opportunity to
build new careers for people from all walks of life to create the
environment we need for the future.”
Today’s green recovery funding support formed
part of a wider package to boost the economy announced by Prime Minister and “build back a
greener and more beautiful Britain”.
