Low Carbon Jobs in an Interconnected World

Article

This paper focuses on the emerging debate concerning the creation of 'low-carbon' jobs. What perhaps began as rhetoric generated for the purpose of counteracting climate negativity is now developing into an area of study that offers extraordinarily promising benefits.

Not only can a low-carbon technology revolution help achieve climate change goals, it can also create new jobs, boost economic growth and help improve the lives of those currently deprived of access to energy.

Government action on climate change promises economic opportunity. The language of climate change policy has hitherto been largely negative, with wide use of such words as 'limitation', 'constraint' and 'reduction'. However, investing in new technology, stimulating new economic activity around a re-engineering of energy systems and growing new markets - all necessary to avoid climate catastrophe - will stimulate growth and offer new, skilled employment to workers.

This paper - the product of eight separate national studies conducted over recent months by each of the GCN's member institutes - provides a major fillip for climate optimism and positivism.

Related items

  1. The inside of a bus. Lots of people sit or stand on a bus during daylight

    A people-focussed future for transport in England

    Our findings from three roundtables on the impact of transport in people’s lives and the priorities for change.
  2. Many national flags against blue sky

    Progressive renewal: The Global Progress Action Summit

    A quarter of the way through this century, change is in the air. Everyone, everywhere, seemingly all at once, wants out of the status quo.

  3. Insurgent government: How mainstream parties can fight off populism and rebuild trust in politics

    Across the western world it feels like a sea change is occurring in our politics. At the heart of this is a simple fact: large numbers of people increasingly feel that mainstream politics is failing to deliver for them.