GREEN JOBS WILL GET US OUT OF RECESSION SAYS TUC

GREEN JOBS WILL GET US OUT OF RECESSION SAYS TUCCreating thousands of green jobs could not only help the UK slash its CO2

emissions, but investment in a new low carbon workforce could also limit

the length and severity of the current recession, says the TUC.But the union organisation warns against the Government taking a back seat

and leaving it to the market to set the pace of transition to a green

economy. In Unlocking Green Enterprise: A Low Carbon Strategy for the UK

Economy, the TUC says that it is up to ministers to create the conditions

that will allow the UK to keep up with European competitors such as Denmark

and Germany, who have developed much bigger green industries.Unlocking green enterprise: will involve pushing the UK in a greener

direction, the Government must first convince business that it is serious

about the environment and that green issues will be at the top of the

political agenda even after the economy recovers. Ministers should be

promoting the environmental message to the public, and where necessary

introducing financial incentives to encourage both consumers and business

to go greener.The TUC also urges the Government to assess the kind of workforce and

skills that will be needed in the green economy. The UK will need more

designers and engineers, and also workers qualified to install and maintain

the new renewable energy technologies. Ministers need to act to ensure

suitable degree courses and training schemes are in place, says the TUC.One of the current barriers to unlocking green enterprise in the UK, says

the TUC, is down to the current cost of goods and services not reflecting

their actual impact on the environment, leaving companies with little

incentive to introduce costlier, greener alternatives. This in turn makes

it less likely than firms will invest in new green products and keeps

consumer demand low. All of which underlines the need for Government action

now to ensure the future success of the UK economy, says the TUC.TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:'Everyone is talking about how the banks and irresponsible lending got the

world into the economic mess it currently finds itself in, but not much is

being said about how we lift ourselves out of the slowdown.'Government action now to invest in low carbon technologies and in the

skills to develop a new green workforce should mean the current recession

is much shorter and shallower for UK businesses.'But as our European neighbours show, it is only through governments - not

the market - creating the right conditions, investing and changing laws

where necessary, that a new green, sustainable workforce can emerge.View the original article hereTUC - Unlocking Green EnterpriseFor the very latest renewable energy jobs please click here