09.10.12: Green is working, say campaigners in hard hat call for green jobs

GREEN IS WORKING, SAY CAMPAIGNERS IN HARD HAT CALL FOR GREEN JOBS

Volunteers from Friends of the Earth Hackney and Tower Hamlets equipped with green hard hats and banners lined up outside Hackney Town Hall on Saturday 6 October, to tell the Government that green is working but it must act to create more green jobs.

The action was inspired by the famous 1970s Saatchi & Saatchi 'Labour isn't working' ad for the Conservative Party - but this time it had a green twist, with passers-by encouraged to take part.

The environmental charity says that green is working; recent figures from the Green Alliance show that there are almost one million jobs already in the low-carbon sector.

Friends of the Earth is calling on the Government to block the Chancellor's expensive dash-for-gas, which would see us hooked on costly and dirty imported gas and undermine investment in renewables. Instead, the Government should use the Energy Bill to develop more home-grown clean power from our wind, sea and sun, which will boost the economy and create thousands of jobs.

Friends of the Earth Hackney and Tower Hamlets spokesperson Kate Hand said:

"Green is working - while the UK struggles in a double-dip recession the low-carbon sector is growing, paving the way to new jobs.

"Many more jobs and businesses opportunities could be created here in North East London if Ministers give the green light to renewable energy.

"We want MPs in Hackney and Tower Hamlets - Diane Abbott, Meg Hillier, Rushanara Ali and Jim Fitzpatrick - to make sure that the Government resists George Osborne's attempts to keep Britain hooked on costly foreign gas.

"The majority of the public want their homes to be powered by clean British energy from our sun, wind and sea."

A Populus poll commissioned by Friends of the Earth in September 2012 revealed that nearly 70% of people in London think that the Energy Bill should give high priority to renewable energy.

The Bill is being debated in Parliament from this November and will determine how the UK is powered for the next 20 years.

Friends of the Earth is calling on the Government to include a target to green UK electricity by 2030 - as recommended by the independent Committee on Climate Change, supported by the Liberal Democrats and the Labour party, and now called for by 50 of the UK's largest companies and industry bodies.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. The Green Alliance report 'Green economy: a UK success story' is available to download from: www.green-alliance.org.uk/grea_p.aspx?id=6629.
2. Populus interviewed over 2000 adults in Great Britain between 19 and 21 September 2012. The poll for Friends of the Earth showed that 72% of people in the UK think the Energy Bill should give high priority to renewable energy (69% in London). For more information call Friends of the Earth's press office - 020 7566 1649.
3. Government figures released in September shows that over three quarters of the public (77%) back renewable energy for providing our electricity, fuel and heat. For more information see: www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/stats/6410-decc-public-att-track-surv-wave2-summary.pdf.
4. Friends of the Earth's Clean British Energy campaign, backed by Dragon's Den's Deborah Meaden, is urging the Government to use the Energy Bill to ensure more of our electricity comes from our wind, sun and water. This, and cutting energy waste, will cut climate changing emissions, create jobs and help to tackle rocketing fuel bills in the long term. For more information see: www.cleanbritishenergy.co.uk.
5. A group of 50 companies and industry bodies have written to the Chancellor, calling for a 2030 carbon target for the power sector: www.aldersgategroup.org.uk/news/2012#2030-power-sector-carbon-target-essential-for-growth.