Home / Sources / Select Committees / Environmental Audit Committee / Green Jobs
Index live
Select Committee · Environmental Audit Committee

Green Jobs

Status: Closed Opened: 17 Nov 2020 Closed: 27 Jul 2022 27 recommendations 11 conclusions 1 report

The Environmental Audit Committee is launching an inquiry into Green Jobs. The inquiry will look at how green jobs can help tackle the expected rise in unemployment due to COVID-19 in a sustainable way. It will also look at the jobs, skills and training needed to achieve the UK’s longer-term climate and environmental ambitions and … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Third Report - Green Jobs HC 75 25 Oct 2021 38 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

7 items
7 Conclusion Third Report - Green Jobs Acknowledged

Just 1 per cent of Kickstart scheme jobs were in green sectors.

Just 1 per cent of Kickstart scheme jobs were in green sectors. While we understand the need to support current industries, we consider that an opportunity has been missed for a greener employment recovery scheme, to contribute towards the Government’s ‘building back greener’ aims. Read more

Government response AI summary
The government outlined its existing Net Zero Strategy and Plan for Jobs, aiming to support 440,000 green jobs by 2030 through skills reforms. DWP is exploring ways to align future labour market interventions with net zero goals, potentially developing a checklist.
Read full response →
9 Conclusion Third Report - Green Jobs Acknowledged

We first recommended that the Government pilot a National Nature Service in our report ‘Growing...

We first recommended that the Government pilot a National Nature Service in our report ‘Growing back better: putting nature and net zero at the heart of the economic recovery’. The Government’s response did not engage directly with this proposal. A National Nature Service would build valuable capacity in the nature … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the concept of a National Nature Service and describes various related initiatives, including funding projects that support skills development in the nature sector, working with the sector to understand future skills needs, and the development of a Youth Environmental Service by other …
Read full response →
11 Conclusion Third Report - Green Jobs Acknowledged

The voucher element of the Green Homes Grant scheme, the Government’s recent flagship scheme to...

The voucher element of the Green Homes Grant scheme, the Government’s recent flagship scheme to address covid-19 impact while stimulating jobs in the green sector of home retrofit for energy efficiency, was not a success, and may even have put people out of work; there is a need to rebuild … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states an independent evaluation of the Green Homes Grant Voucher scheme is underway, with findings informing future scheme designs and lessons learned workshops. Industry engagement, as recommended, is being re-established through the Net Zero Buildings Council and other forums.
Read full response →
13 Conclusion Third Report - Green Jobs Acknowledged

The scale of the challenge to retrofit homes is significant, as recognised by the Government...

The scale of the challenge to retrofit homes is significant, as recognised by the Government when launching the Green Homes Grant scheme, claiming it would create 100,000 green jobs. With millions of homes requiring retrofitting to achieve decarbonisation through improved insulation alongside electrification by heat pump installation, or, in due … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledged the need for a skilled supply chain for retrofitting, citing a past £6.9m skills competition, existing Skills Bootcamps and T Levels covering retrofit, and ongoing work to monitor the market and develop training offers. The CITB is in early planning stages to …
Read full response →
34 Recommendation Third Report - Green Jobs Acknowledged

By the end of 2021, the Government should set out its ambitions for improving diversity...

By the end of 2021, the Government should set out its ambitions for improving diversity and inclusion in the green workforce and set out how it will measure diversity and inclusion in green jobs, for the purpose of monitoring and evaluating progress towards its aims. Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states it will continue to engage with industry to ensure equal opportunity and that the ONS will 'seek to refine' its understanding and measurement of diversity within the green economy. It also mentions campaigns to raise awareness of green careers, but does not …
Read full response →
35 Conclusion Third Report - Green Jobs Acknowledged

Something that has not been considered in the Green Jobs Taskforce report recommendations is the...

Something that has not been considered in the Green Jobs Taskforce report recommendations is the wider enabling infrastructure which allows people to physically access green job opportunities, such as public transport, care and rural broadband connectivity. This will involve co-ordination across the Government. This wider infrastructure needs to be factored … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges that work is underway across government to identify and address labour market barriers, including transport, and states they are working with employers to connect jobseekers with jobs, including green jobs.
Read full response →
36 Recommendation Third Report - Green Jobs Acknowledged

The Government’s green jobs and just transition delivery plans should include analysis of the enabling...

The Government’s green jobs and just transition delivery plans should include analysis of the enabling infrastructure needed for people to access new green jobs, and allocate actions to the departments with responsibilities over this infrastructure.

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges that work is underway across government to identify and address labour market barriers, including transport, and states they are working with employers to connect jobseekers with jobs, including green jobs.
Read full response →

Oral evidence sessions

4 sessions
Date Witnesses
9 Jun 2021 Amy Jenkins · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Gillian Keegan MP · Department for Education, Jessica Hodgson · Department for Work and Pensions, Jon Boswell · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Mims Davies MP · Department for Work and Pensions, Rebecca Pow MP · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP · Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Sinead O’Sullivan · Department for Education View ↗
12 May 2021 Andrew Mennear · BP, Dr Adam Read · SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK Ltd, Jane Cooper · Orsted, Peter Walters · Chemical Industries Association, Venetia Knight · Groundwork View ↗
3 Mar 2021 Graham Petersen · Greener Jobs Alliance, Kevin Bentley · Local Government Association’s People & Places Board, Lee Jowett · National Association for Environmental Education, Meg Baker · Students Organising for Sustainability UK (SOS-UK), Mr Iain Patton · EAUC - The Alliance for Sustainability Leadership in Education, Ms Charlotte Bonner · Education and Training Foundation (ETF), Richard Kendall · Humber Local Enterprise Partnership, Samantha Smith · Just Transition Centre View ↗
3 Feb 2021 Josie Fraser · Open University, Libby Peake · Green Alliance, Luke Murphy · Institute for Public Policy Research, Mike Hemsley · Climate Change Committee, Mr Martin Baxter · Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment, Sue Ferns · Prospect Trade Union View ↗

Who gave evidence

27 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Amy Jenkins · Deputy Director, Clean Growth, Green Finance and … Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy 1
Andrew Mennear · Director, UK Government Affairs BP 1
Dr Adam Read · External Affairs Director SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK Ltd 1
Gillian Keegan MP · Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister … Department for Education 1
Graham Petersen · Secretary Greener Jobs Alliance 1
Jane Cooper · UK Stakeholder Relations & Regulatory Affairs Orsted 1
Jessica Hodgson · Deputy Director for Labour Market Strategy Department for Work and Pensions 1
Jon Boswell · Head of Strategic Funding, Green Finance Division Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 1
Josie Fraser · Deputy Vice Chancellor Open University 1
Kevin Bentley · Chair Local Government Association’s People & Places Board 1
Lee Jowett · Fellow National Association for Environmental Education 1
Libby Peake · Head of Resource Policy Green Alliance 1
Luke Murphy · Associate Director for Energy, Climate, Housing a… Institute for Public Policy Research 1
Meg Baker · Director of Education Students Organising for Sustainability UK (SOS-UK) 1
Mike Hemsley · Team Leader, Carbon Budgets Climate Change Committee 1
Mims Davies MP · Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister … Department for Work and Pensions 1
Mr Iain Patton · Chief Executive Officer EAUC - The Alliance for Sustainability Leadership in Education 1
Mr Martin Baxter · Director of Policy and External Affairs and Deput… Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment 1
Ms Charlotte Bonner · National Head of Education for Sustainable Develo… Education and Training Foundation (ETF) 1
Peter Walters · Head of Environment and Sustainability Chemical Industries Association 1
Rebecca Pow MP · Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 1
Richard Kendall · Executive Director Humber Local Enterprise Partnership 1
Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP · Minister of State (Minister for Business, Energy … Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy 1
Samantha Smith · Director Just Transition Centre 1
Sinead O’Sullivan · Director, Career Learning, Analysis and Skills Di… Department for Education 1
Sue Ferns · Senior Deputy General Secretary Prospect Trade Union 1
Venetia Knight · Head of Employment and Enterprise at Groundwork G… Groundwork 1

Correspondence

4 letters
DateDirectionTitle
23 Feb 2022 To cttee Letter from the Minister of State for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change (…
20 Jan 2022 To cttee Letter from the Chair to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Indust…
9 Sep 2021 To cttee Letter from the Minister of State for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change, …
26 Nov 2020 — Correspondence from the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial …