Greener economy ‘could create 200k Scottish jobs’

Scotland could create 200,000 jobs during the next 20 years by pursuing a new economy built on renewables, green chemistry, home insulation and forestry. That’s according to a new report […]

Scotland could create 200,000 jobs during the next 20 years by pursuing a new economy built on renewables, green chemistry, home insulation and forestry.

That’s according to a new report by the Scottish Green Party.

It found “significantly more people could be employed in sustainable industries than are currently employed in fossil fuel industries”.

Policy ideas in the report include creating a publicly-owned renewables company to encourage offshore wind, tidal and wave developments and prioritising North Sea decommissioning work.

It also recommends taking the Grangemouth refinery and petrochemicals plant into public ownership and converting it to make and use synthetic gas.

It went on to say the country should consider launching a national insulation retrofit programme, a large-scale reforesting scheme and making available support packages for fossil fuel workers to aid their transition to new sectors.

Alison Johnstone, Scottish Green MSP, said there have been mass layoffs in the oil and gas industry in recent months and the “only credible and responsible course of action is a transition towards sustainable sectors”.

She added: “We can enhance skills, encourage innovation and increase supply chain opportunities for Scotland’s small and medium-sized businesses.

“We have the chance to become a world centre of expertise in oil and gas decommissioning, with imminent global demand for such knowledge. Making housing insulation a national infrastructure priority is a point the Finance Secretary already agrees with me on.”

Earlier this year major energy giants including Centrica, BP and Weatherford International announced a number of job cuts.

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