Green Jobs: The Pragmatic Approach To Recovery
What's bigger than the recession? Climate change. And world leaders are struggling to agree how to tackle it. Good news: there is something you can do about it. Environmentally focused approaches are creating green jobs that in turn can become the "green shoots" of recovery that the UK economy so badly needs.
Green jobs are not sidelined for the stereotype of "do-gooders" in brown cords and woolly jumpers - it's a pragmatic way to help change the world around you.
Chantél du Plooy takes a look at the green-collar opportunities available in the UK and how you can get involved.
Combating climate change
Climate change is natural. It is the atmosphere's way of adapting to the amount of energy it receives from the sun.
If these changes take centuries, the biosphere can adapt normally. However, climate change is currently taking place too fast. Over the last 200 years human activity such as burning fossil fuels, dramatic population growth and clearing woodland areas has increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
According to the Committee on Climate Change, the UK needs to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 34% by 2020. This number is likely to increase if the UN negotiations this December in Copenhagen leads to a new deal.
A report released recently by Greenpeace International and the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) indicated that a strong deal in Copenhagen could create 6.9 million jobs within the clean energy sector across the globe by 2030.
Reuters reported on a statement made by Greenpeace USA's global arming campaign director, Damon Moglen who said: "Global leaders can tackle the twin crises of global economic recession and climate change head on by investing in renewable energy.
"We can choose green jobs and growth or unemployment, ecological and social collapse."
Green-collar jobs the seeds to recovery
The Government doesn't have a choice in the battle against climate change. If they do not comply with powerful and effective eco-friendly projects, they face massive financial penalties.
Combating climate change directly creates jobs which could ultimately help the country back to recovery.
But where will the money come from?
Currently the UK looses £650m per year through improper recycling. According to a report from Friends of the Earth, we send recyclable resources to landfills or incinerators which lead to 19 million tonnes of unnecessary carbon dioxide.
Dr Michael Warhurst, from Friends of the Earth commented to the Ecologist: "The UK is woefully lagging behind much of Europe on recycling.
"Flanders in Belgium recycles over 70 per cent of its waste - that's twice as much as we recycle here.
"Our low recycling rate means that we have to import more expensive resources like aluminium - this is economic madness when they could be recycled here and sold for profit instead."
Presently the Government has implemented multiple green schemes that include funding electric car production in the UK.
A £2.3bn aid package has been made available and Tata Motors has already received £10m to build the Indica Vista EV in the country.
Nissan has awarded its UK factory in Sunderland the opportunity to produce lithium batteries for their electric car.
Sunderland employs 4, 000 workers and Business Secretary Lord Mandelson is hopeful that the factory might also win the full production on the vehicle.
"The Government is doing everything possible to secure electric vehicle production in Sunderland, " he commented to The Northern Echo.
Lord Mandelson added: "I am excited that we are going to see battery production in Britain, and I'm very hopeful that will be followed up by the full car production."
In the field of renewable energy, Glasgow has recently been chosen as the appropriate location to build a £20million research centre.
The centre will have to come up with a multi-billion pound renewable energy programme for the entire Europe. This project will create 250 top engineering jobs, the Herald Scotland reported.
The future according to the Conservative Party will sprout a "Green Deal".
The deal will introduce plans to green UK homes in order to cut carbon emissions and create jobs.
Tories will create energy efficiency services that will earn £2.5bn a year and create around 70, 000 jobs and additional apprenticeships.
There are a number of jobs that have a green approach other than working in renewable energy, eco-friendly construction or hybrid vehicles. Green jobs include hydrologist, environmental engineers, pest control technicians, conservation biologist, science teacher, toxicologists, pollution control technicians, ecologists and the list continues.
Benefiting from going green
Green projects lead to job creation and generates money, which in turn funds more eco-friendly schemes and career opportunities.
The benefits of green projects are endless. Apart from the physical improvements to the environment and the economy, there is also other ways to gain.
An eco-friendly approach to your corporation can influence your company's image positively. As more consumers become environmentally conscious, their purchasing habits transform as well.
According to Workplace Culture, being eco-friendly encourages productivity and job satisfaction.
A survey conducted by the Kenexa Research Institute (KRI) in 13 countries revealed that sustainability programmes have a constructive influence on employees.
The survey also unveiled that workers who are impressed with their companies' eco-friendly strategies, are proud to work there and would promote their companies to others.
Practical tips to make a difference
Not everyone can drop their current jobs and join the World Wildlife Federation (WWF).
However, this isn't an excuse to turn a blind eye. Here are some practical tips to make a difference in your everyday working life:
1. Use paper scarcely: Think twice before printing out an email, print on both sides and if possible print two pages per sheet
2. Recycle: Not only paper but also print cartridges, cans etc
3. Shut down: Your computer and everything else running before you leave for home
4. Food & Drink: Eat and drink out of containers which you can be washed and re-used like plastic lunchboxes and porcelain mugs
5. Car pool: If you have to drive to work everyday, try and organise a car pool or share a ride with at least one other person
