Green Economy Must Take Root

摘要

The economy is in recession. Unemployment is forecast to continue to rise, and local authorities are facing a triple whammy of squeezed funding, declining income, and ever-greater demand for essential services. In these difficult times, some people might be inclined to view tackling issues such as climate change as a distraction we cannot afford. What's the point in insulating a home if people are losing them, you might ask? The truth is that taking action now to combat climate change makes economic sense. If we do not start to act, the economic consequences will be far graver in the future - recession or not. Creating a low-carbon economy will also develop new markets and new businesses. At a time when we are seeing redundancies on an almost daily basis, the LGA estimates that up to 150,000 new green jobs could be created - jobs which would help save carbon, reduce fuel poverty, and protect those parts of the country at greatest risk from climate change.