What is the Green Economy?
Like many other countries around the world, the UK has committed to cutting its carbon emissions in response to the climate emergency, with the aim of being carbon neutral or net zero by 2050.
That will change our everyday lives in all sorts of ways, from the energy we use to what we eat and the jobs we do – and the transition is already under way.
It has been estimated that over 6000 newly skilled individuals will be needed in Hampshire alone to retrofit domestic properties – at an estimated cost of £29.6 Billion.
Growing opportunities
There are over 75,000 businesses, from wind turbine makers to recycling plants, in the ‘green economy’ with more than 1.2 million people already employed in the sector, making it bigger than manufacturing and construction combined. And with rapid expansion expected over the next few years, there’ll be massive demand for skills that are already in short supply.
What is the green economy?
Researchers define the green economy as based on 6 sectors, all of which will require significant investment in technology, policy, employment, and education if we are to reach net zero.
Renewable energy
Renewable energy plays an important role in securing a country’s energy security and in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
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Sustainable transport
Transport accounts for around 30% of global carbon emissions, and 72% of these emissions come from road transportation – from cars, vans, lorries, buses and other road vehicles.
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Waste management
Waste management has a big role to play in reducing GHG emissions to a sustainable level. Globally, 2.02 billion tonnes of municipal waste are generated every year, according to 2016 figures, and this is only predicted to increase in the future.
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Green buildings
Energy use in buildings for lighting, heating, or cooling leads to direct or indirect CO2 emissions. To successfully achieve a Net Zero 2050, we need to completely transform the way we build and power our homes.
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Water management
Around 6% of the UKs total greenhouse gas emissions are from household water
supply and use.
Land management
Net Zero requires a transformation in land use across the UK.
Options to drive a reduction in emissions include increased tree planting, increased implementation and use of low-carbon farming practices such as ‘controlled-release’ fertillisers and expanding the planting of bioenergy crops.
Renewable energy
Renewable energy plays an important role in securing a country’s energy security and in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Using renewable energy can help to reduce energy imports and reduce fossil fuel use, some of the largest contibutors to carbon dioxide emissions in many countries.
The UK already supports more than 200,000 full-time equivalent jobs in the low carbon and renewable energy economy but this is not enough and forecasts predict the number of roles in the UK offshore wind industry alone, could grow to almost 100,000 by 2030 (A 285% increase from 2022 figures!).
If you’d like to help offset the consequences of climate change, consider the range of renewable energy careers available in the UK.
Sustainable transport
Transport accounts for around 30% of global carbon emissions, and 72% of these emissions come from road transportation – from cars, vans, lorries, buses and other road vehicles.
With road transport creating such a large percentage of global emissions, it’s crucial that drivers, car manufacturers and the government do all they can to cut their carbon footprints down to size. This wll involve introducing greener technologies, switching to a hybrid or electric vehicles and replacing exisitng public transport options with more efficient alternatives. And of course people are needed to develop, implement and maintain these technologies and policies.
Jobs with the sustainable transport sector vary from policy manager’s, and researchers to electric vehicle engineers!
Waste management
Waste management has a big role to play in reducing GHG emissions to a sustainable level. Globally, 2.02 billion tonnes of municipal waste are generated every year, according to 2016 figures, and this is only predicted to increase in the future.
By implementing ‘good practice’ waste management and recycling solutions, such as; effective collection and sorting of recyclable materials and food waste and encouraging reuse, the waste management sector can: make significant carbon reductions and buy time for sectors that are harder to decarbonise.
Green buildings
Energy use in buildings for lighting, heating, or cooling leads to direct or indirect CO2 emissions. To successfully achieve a Net Zero 2050, we need to completely transform the way we build and power our homes.
By 2035 almost all replacement heating systems for existing homes must be low-carbon or ready for hydrogen e.g. heat pumps.
Retrofitting homes with greener technologies will critical and currently, the UK has a major shortage in the skills to deliver it.
Jobs within the green buildings sector include Cavity insulation installers, domestic energy assessors, draught proofers, designers, project managers, heating, ventilation and air conditioning engineers and solar panel installers.
Water management
Around 6% of the UKs total greenhouse gas emissions are from household water
supply and use.
Reducing water consumption, even by modest amounts, can help deliver
significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions whilst also helping secure future
water supplies, facilitating growth and leaving more water in the environment.
To deliver this reduction, the UK need to join up in the delivery of energy and water
efficiency in terms of new build design, retrofitting existing buildings and provision
of advice. And they need to skilled staff to do so!
Land management
Net Zero requires a transformation in land use across the UK.
Options to drive a reduction in emissions include increased tree planting, increased implementation and use of low-carbon farming practices such as ‘controlled-release’ fertillisers and expanding the planting of bioenergy crops.
In-demand jobs within this sector include biofuel engineers and scientists, geologists and chemists (and of course, farmers and foresters!).
Your time is now
With the shift to decarbonisation gathering pace, there’s no better time to equip yourself with the skills the new low carbon technologies will demand. And the NetZero Training Hub Portsmouth has a wide range of courses available to help you build a rewarding career while helping to build a more sustainable future.
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