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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

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Reports

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

Recommendations & Conclusions

7 items
1 Conclusion Third Report - Green Jobs Not Addressed

There is no single definition, nor single way to measure green jobs.

There is no single definition, nor single way to measure green jobs. The Government’s ambitions for accelerating the number of green jobs over the 2020s are welcome, but without a clear definition and metric, the Government will be unable to assess whether its policies are leading to good quality, green … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government's response details the cross-cutting nature of green jobs policies and how Green Jobs Taskforce recommendations informed the Spending Review and Net Zero Strategy. However, it does not address the committee's observation regarding the lack of a clear definition or metric for green jobs.
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2 Recommendation Third Report - Green Jobs Not Addressed

We recommend that, by the end of 2021, the Government set out how it will...

We recommend that, by the end of 2021, the Government set out how it will measure progress towards its green jobs targets; this should include its definition of ‘green jobs’, and how it will measure the number, type and location of these over the 2020s, for the purpose of monitoring … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government response details existing and planned skills and training initiatives, such as a £6.9m skills competition, Skills Bootcamps, and T Levels, aimed at developing a skilled workforce for green sectors. However, it does not provide a definition of 'green jobs' or outline how it …
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3 Conclusion Third Report - Green Jobs Not Addressed

‘Green jobs’ is a cross-cutting issue, requiring action across Government alongside co-ordination with local authorities...

‘Green jobs’ is a cross-cutting issue, requiring action across Government alongside co-ordination with local authorities and the devolved administrations to deliver the Government’s ambitions. Clear lines of responsibility and a mechanism for co- ordination are needed, otherwise green jobs risks being given insufficient priority within departments, constraining the Government’s efforts … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government's response focuses on measures to mitigate carbon leakage, such as the UK Emissions Trading Scheme, and developing policy for product standards and public procurement. It does not address the committee's conclusion about the need for clear lines of responsibility and a coordination mechanism …
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4 Recommendation Third Report - Green Jobs Not Addressed

We recommend that the Government, in its response to this report, set out its arrangements...

We recommend that the Government, in its response to this report, set out its arrangements for cross-departmental delivery of green jobs and skills ambitions, identifying: a) each department’s responsibilities; b) how it will monitor and co-ordinate delivery across departments; and c) how it will collaborate with the devolved administrations and … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government's response refers to the Skills and Productivity Board's role in providing insights and monitoring green skills work. However, it does not set out detailed arrangements for cross-departmental delivery, specific departmental responsibilities, or mechanisms for monitoring, coordination, and collaboration with devolved administrations and local …
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5 Recommendation Third Report - Green Jobs Not Addressed

Departments need to understand the delivery costs for their green jobs responsibilities to ensure their...

Departments need to understand the delivery costs for their green jobs responsibilities to ensure their spending plans include sufficient allocation for this. Any analysis of environmental skills needs in local government needs to be accompanied by an assessment of the funding requirements for the green jobs and skills that are … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government's response focuses on the Skills for Jobs white paper and DWP's work to identify and promote green job opportunities, but it does not address the recommendation for departments to understand and assess delivery costs or local authority funding requirements for green jobs and …
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21 Recommendation Third Report - Green Jobs Not Addressed

There is a risk that the net zero transition could lead to UK job and...

There is a risk that the net zero transition could lead to UK job and skills losses if carbon-emitting industries simply move overseas. A carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), recommended in our report ‘Growing back better: putting nature and net zero at the heart of the economic recovery’, should be … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the importance of mitigating carbon leakage, detailing its current approach through the UK ETS and ongoing policy development. It outlines analysis and other mitigation options but does not specifically address the recommendation to consider a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM).
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26 Recommendation Third Report - Green Jobs Not Addressed

By the end of January 2022, the Government should engage with delivery partners and schools...

By the end of January 2022, the Government should engage with delivery partners and schools in order to extend the Children and Nature programme beyond March 2022 and expand the number of delivery projects within the programme, using the evaluation project findings to inform the design and implementation of this … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government will not extend the Children and Nature programme, stating it will close in March 2022. Instead, it details other initiatives such as the new Climate Leaders Award, National Education Nature Park, and the £2.5 million ‘Generation Green’ project, which aim to achieve similar …
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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 …