Policy Hub
On 14 April 2009, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) published a report (Green jobs: prospects for creating jobs from offshore wind in the UK) which sets out evidence from industry players abroad and in the UK on the kind of interventions needed to deliver a successful offshore wind industry.
The report observes that, as unemployment in the UK continues to rise with the impact of the global recession, it is only natural to look for opportunities to create new jobs. The imperative to tackle climate change and drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions offers scope for a radical rethink as to how the UK economy should be structured in the future.
The report contends that we need renewable energy to play a pivotal role in creating a sustainable economy for the UK. Although the government has set ambitious targets, there are significant policy and practical issues to be dealt with before delivery can be assured.
Efforts to start a recovery in the midst of the current economic downturn provide an opportunity for the UK to secure its share of the benefits of this renewable revolution but, as the report emphasises, success demands that financial support and a new policy framework are agreed to make sure the UK delivers on its renewable targets.
Green jobs: prospects for creating jobs from offshore wind in the UK (PDF)