A Green Recovery from the Pandemic Means Building an Economy That Works for Everyone.

 

Recovering from the economic impact of the pandemic means changing the way we work, moving away from old, polluting, industries and towards newer more sustainable ones.

 

The Green Party have called for a Green New Deal to transform the UK’s economy as we begin the road to recovery. This would involve work to make homes more energy efficient, the roll out of renewable energy schemes across the country and increased investment in public transport.

 

Green Party elected mayor candidate for West Yorkshire Andrew Cooper said, “We know that underpinning any economic recovery must be the aim to create a greener job sector which has sustainability at the heart of every process.”

 

Adding that, “However, the government is categorically failing to invest sufficiently in the Green sector”.

 

As they campaign for the 2021 local elections the Green Party are running on a manifesto that includes investing £2billion every year in training and apprenticeships to help people find jobs in green industries; retrofitting homes, businesses and public buildings across the country in a move away from new builds and using a carbon tax to fund the transition to renewable energy.

 

Training and skills would be prioritised in and investment directed towards those regions that were struggling economically before the pandemic and have suffered most since it began.

 

This would be assisted by giving local authorities greater powers to direct newly created training and skills programmes and to decide how related funding is spent. A network of regional mutual banks would also be created to start-up companies, particularly those run on a cooperative, community interest or not-for profit basis, that develop technologies to decarbonise the economy.

 

The party would also use a Universal Basic Income to tackle job insecurity, making it easier for people to train for new jobs or return to education and move from ownership to usership through initiatives such as car sharing and neighbourhood libraries for things like tools and equipment.

 

Green councillors have already played a key role in moving the UK economy to a more sustainable model, Andrew Cooper said: “Since our record results at the last local elections we have seen Green Party councillors up and down the country making real change in their communities. Whether it be motions to create thousands of jobs in retrofitting homes in Norwich, or my Green Building Fund proposal which will ensure all new builds are built to the highest specification with ultra-low energy demand, Greens know exactly what it takes to make sure we recover from this pandemic in a way that will offer a better future for all”.

 

 

Green Party activists in Staffordshire have been working to promote a green recovery ahead of the launch of their county council election campaign.

 

A party spokesperson said ‘building a green economy is hugely important to our members and supporters, many of whom run small enterprises in the creative or technology sectors and want to build their businesses in a sustainable and socially responsible way’

 

The spokesperson added that ‘the Green Party offers the only realistic and responsible plan for rebuilding our economy and society after the difficult and for many heart breaking times we have all been through’.

 

 

Describing the role party members have already played in transforming the economy of their area to make it more sustainable Andrew Cooper said “It is Green councillors and activists on the ground, working with local communities up and down the country, who are picking up the slack and doing what they can to ensure a green recovery for all.”