6 April 2021
Tracey Harwood: “Creating a greener job sector underpins a sustainable economy, brings us warmer homes and greater energy efficiency.”
The Green Party has pledged to fight for a Green Recovery from the coronavirus pandemic by providing good quality, sustainable jobs for communities across England and Wales.
In the run up to the local elections in May, the party has said there has never been a more important moment to elect Greens who will work hard to help their community recover from the pandemic while tackling the climate emergency and reducing inequality.
The Green Party has called for a Green New Deal to transform the UK’s housing to make all homes warmer and more energy efficient, revolutionise our transport and rapidly roll out renewable energy across the country. Hundreds of thousands of low carbon jobs would be created to carry out this work.
Election candidate Tracey Harwood said that the impact of coronavirus had exposed the inequalities that blight our society and undermine our resilience.
“The recovery must put an end to these. Returning to ‘business as usual’ would only make them worse. Green activists and think tanks [1] have spelt out where and how thousands of low-carbon jobs could be created in Surrey. Green candidates are primed and ready to create an economy that can withstand future shocks while tackling the climate and ecological emergency.
“A record number of communities across the country gained Green councillors at the last local elections, and have benefitted from the real changes introduced. We’ve seen motions to create thousands of jobs in retrofitting homes in Norwich [2], a Green Building Fund proposal from Councillor Andrew Cooper, candidate for West Yorkshire mayor, which will ensure all new builds are built to the highest specification with ultra-low energy demand [3]. London Mayor candidate, Sean Berry, has announced a Creative Autonomy Allowance to help widen opportunities and support for young Londoners [4].
“Creating a greener job sector underpins a sustainable economy, brings us warmer homes and greater energy efficiency. But Surrey County Council, like the government, is failing to invest sufficiently in the Green sector. We need Green councillors to ensure a green recovery for all.”
