UK Green Initiatives to Create New Jobs

Low-carbon industries are expected to create new jobs for up to an estimated 400,000 people in the next 8 years, as announced by the UK Climate Change Secretary, Ed Miliband.

A global race for creating a low-carbon economy is now on, said Miliband. The key elements required for this focus include energy efficiency and a smarter electricity grid. The UK government will be examining how it can boost jobs and investment in developing low-carbon energy and cleaner vehicles. Government spending will be concentrated on simultaneously tackling both economic and climate problems. The goal is to give every home a green makeover by 2030.

To lower carbon emissions, the following areas need to be studied and reworked:

Energy efficiency

Over 50% of UK emissions come from heating and power consumed by buildings. Technology for improving energy efficiency will be expanded to cover homes, other buildings and home appliances. The government has already promised a green overhaul for every home.

Low carbon energy

Three key areas have been identified to provide buildings and the rest of the economy ‘clean energy.’ These include nuclear power, carbon capture and storage for coal generators.

Smart grid

A £4.7bn budget has been proposed to upgrade the National Grid to integrate new wind farms and nuclear power. Ministers want a digital ‘smart grid’ that also includes a smart meter in every home by 2020, to monitor demand more precisely and therefore reduce the need for generating capacity.

Clean vehicles

Studies indicate that a quarter of emissions are from vehicles. After energy efficienct, fuel-efficient cars are the nest target for green investment.