UK Labour Party pledges 1 million new green jobs by 2025

The UK Labour Party has set a goal to create one million new green jobs over the next decade and make the country a world leader in low carbon technologies, if it wins the upcoming election.

In its manifesto ahead of the May 7 general election, launched on Monday, the party said this objective would be supported by "ambitious domestic carbon reduction targets, including a legal target to remove the carbon from our electricity supply by 2030," as well as an energy efficiency push.

The manifesto envisages a timetable for giving the Green Investment Bank additional powers to enable it to invest in green businesses and technology. Labour also plans to set up an Energy Security Board to plan the country's energy mix, including renewables, nuclear, green gas, carbon capture and storage, and clean coal.

Meanwhile, the Green Party pledged in its manifesto today to investments of up to GBP 35 billion (USD 51.2bn/EUR 48.5bn) over the next Parliament in renewable generation and in the National Grid, if needed. "This would include both large-scale generation and small- and medium-scale renewable generation schemes funded through local authorities," the manifesto says. To help fund the investment, the party proposes to give full borrowing powers to the Green Investment Bank.

(GBP 1.0 = USD 1.463/EUR 1.385)

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