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Mayor: Green economy will create 15,000 jobs for London
Katherine Barney, City Hall Reporter30 Mar 2009
Up to 15,000 jobs a year could be created in London under plans to make the city one of the greenest in the world, a report will reveal today.
The study, commissioned by the Mayor's London Development Agency, found that Boris Johnson's plans to cut energy use and tackle climate change could contribute £600 million each year to the capital's economy by 2025.
It includes proposals to produce electric cars, fit insulation to buildings to make them more energy-efficient and build waste and recycling plants. But it warns that London will have to act fast to avoid being beaten by other countries already developing similar strategies aiming to capture the low-carbon market. The report, Prospectus for London, the Low-Carbon Capital, outlines the economic boost and job opportunities for London and the rest of the country if they can capitalise on a low-carbon economy. London already has 80 university departments focused on climate-change research and development.
Mr Johnson has previously indicated he would like to see the unemployed train in these departments to take up jobs to make the city greener.
Other projects that could help bring in jobs and money include the introduction of a hybrid London bus fleet by 2025 and a large-scale tree-planting scheme.
Mr Johnson said: "I see the green economy as an unprecedented opportunity not only to improve our planet and our quality of life, but to develop new industries and create new jobs in an economic climate that is otherwise extremely difficult.
"There are clear opportunities for London to create jobs and wealth by pursuing programmes to save energy and cut carbon.
"I am determined that London emerges in the best possible position from the downturn and I'm taking every step required to do so.
"We are already making our own buildings more energy efficient, saving £1 million per year.
"These kinds of things will not only stimulate our economy but also help to contribute to global efforts to make the changes needed to become a less carbon-belching society.'
Countries including the United States, China and Germany, have already announced financial packages that include a low-carbon focus.
Peter Bishop, London Development Agency director for design, development and environment, said: "By responding to climate change, we can attract major long-term investment, create new jobs and address the needs of some of the most vulnerable Londoners through our new energy efficiency programmes."
Reader views (5)
... and he intends on doing that by halting the low emission zone scheme, scrapping the £25 congestion charge for Chelsea tractors, removing the Western Congestion Charge, increasing public transport fares and cutting funds to cycle schemes?
Come on Bozo! People can see through you!
- Marco, Notting Hill, 01/04/2009 10:37
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Boris,
This is just a sound bite. Your Green credentials have already been destroyed by your pro-motorist policies.
You are getting rid of the Western extension to the Congestion Charge zone. You have cancelled the Cross River tram and will be wasting £100 million replcaing bendy buses with buses that will have to be replaced soon with hybrid buses.
Ken, for all his faults, has already tried hybrid buses in London. So if you are going to replace bendy buses, why not go straight to the hybrid option. 2025 is far too late for this idea, and you will be a long time gone by then.
- Andrew, London W1, 30/03/2009 22:54
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But of course at what cost? One of the big criticism of all government at the moment is that it is "creating" jobs (ie spending the money raised from the productive sector of the economy) while the private sector is under siege on all fronts and shedding jobs. Any welcome for something like this needs to be accompanied by a proper cost benefit analysis, and honesty about what these jobs are costing the public. Because they will cost the public money.
- Damian Hockney, London, UK, 30/03/2009 14:35
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Plans to make London one of the greenest cities in the world have been set back by Boris cutting investment in cycle routes, particularly in the outer London boroughs (with barely a whimper from their Assembly Members). It's all very well promising us jam tomorrow...
- Austen, London, 30/03/2009 14:03
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HERE COME THE GERMANS< FRENCH< POLES< SPANISH BUT BRITAINS GREEN FIRMS WHERE ARE THET>
- Alan Green, Woodford Green, 30/03/2009 13:41
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