Fact Service February 2022

Issue 7

Workers back green economy but have doubts

Workers back a move to a greener economy, but only a quarter (25%) believe that the government’s climate action plans will create new jobs in their local area, the TUC says. 

A poll by the union organisation found that 86% of workers support the UK moving to a greener economy to tackle climate change, with even greater support among younger workers.  

But only a quarter (26%) agree that the government is doing enough to move the UK to a green economy, while 40% says it isn’t

Most workers (78%) agree that the government should invest in retraining and re-skilling workers for a greener economy, with just 3% disagreeing. 

While two in three workers (65%) think it is important that their employer is actively helping to tackle climate change, only one in three (33%) say their employer has put measures in place in the workplace to do so.

A majority (71%) believe employers should consult their workers about how their company’s operations need to change as part of the move to a greener economy, but only 13% have been given the opportunity to share ideas on how to tackle climate change. This drops to one in 10 (10%) of workers earning less than £29,000. 

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Workers are ready. They know this has to happen. But ministers are doing nowhere near enough to create good new jobs and future-proof the industries that are delivering good jobs now.”

https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/most-workers-back-move-greener-economy-just-one-four-believe-current-plans-will-create-many