Show progress on employment or risk losing support for energy transition, unions warn Government
Just two in ten voters (20 per cent) think the energy transition will have a positive impact on jobs in their local area, new research shows.
Polling conducted by YouGov on behalf of GMB and Prospect reveals only three in ten (31 per cent) think the transition will have a positive impact on jobs anywhere in the UK.
The survey of more than 2,000 adults across the country shows more than half (55 per cent) agree a transition focused on jobs and the economy should be prioritised over one focused on speed. Only 17 per cent prefer a focus on speed.
Prospect and GMB – who between them represent tens of thousands of energy workers - have warned the Government must demonstrate progress on creating new energy jobs, or risk weakening support for the green transition.
The unions have launched a campaign group, Climate Jobs UK, which aims to put energy workers and jobs at the centre of the UK’s debate on decarbonisation.
According to the research eight per cent of the population, equivalent to 5.5 million people, either work in the energy sector or knows someone who does.
Worryingly, in the poll the public places energy workers below other groups such as climate campaigners, energy companies, local and national politicians in a list of who should be involved in decisions over future energy policy.
This finding is symptomatic of the way that workers have been marginalised in the national debate so far, the unions say.
Gary Smith, GMB General Secretary, said:
“How the UK makes the transition to net zero is hugely important.
“The voices of those working in the energy sector day in, day out, who have vast experience of dealing with change, need to be front and centre of the process. If not, it's doomed to fail.
“At the moment, the transition feels like something being done to workers – that can’t continue.
“People need to see real jobs created where they live, and their local economy boosted, or we’re going to see more and more tempted by the siren calls of those who deny the reality of climate change.”
Mike Clancy, Prospect General Secretary, said:
“The biggest challenge with the energy transition is no longer climate technology, it is climate jobs.
“We are going to need tens of thousands of workers to deliver this huge shift in the way we produce and use energy, and if we get it right there is the potential to create good quality, unionised jobs across the country.
“But this research shows that people aren’t yet seeing those jobs materialise, and if this continues then it will undermine support for the transition and drive people towards parties who oppose it.
“The government have raised the ambition on energy policy, which is welcome, now they need to be bigger and bolder when it comes to energy jobs and put energy workers at the heart of this agenda.
