Over 1,400 new 'green' jobs in Chesterfield could replace roles lost to Covid in two years

The data compiled by Green New Deal UK shows the town is likely to suffer over 1,148 permanent job losses due to the Covid-19 crisis.

However the new research claims the redundant positions could be replaced entirely with jobs in new and existing industries – including green infrastructure and care work over the next 24 months.

In Chesterfield the new green roles would be made up of building, transport, training, digital and research jobs in sectors such as solar energy, offshore wind and energy efficiency – with over 1,000 of the extra positions stemming from social care.

Chesterfield Borough Council previously declared a climate emergency and drew up a Climate Action Plan, which activists say the new jobs would help fulfil.

Previous research from Green New Deal UK found that 1.2m green jobs could be created throughout Britain in the next two years at a cost of around £68bn.

The Government froze fuel duty earlier this year citing a reliance on cars as an important transport safety measure during the ongoing pandemic and also cut air passenger duty on domestic flights – which was met with criticism from environmental campaigners in the face of climate change.

Greg Hewitt, of Chesterfield Climate Alliance, said: "There’s an unemployment crisis and a climate crisis and a Green New Deal can create thousands of good green jobs right here in Chesterfield.

"We all know that climate change is going to have a huge impact everywhere and we can’t let people just fall by the wayside.

"The Government could invest in these green jobs right now to boost our economic recovery but they are refusing to.

"If you compare what we are spending to France and Germany and the US we are falling behind what is really needed to tackle unemployment and the recession, let alone sort out climate change.

"With Chesterfield having such strong history in coal mining, we feel it is important to provide support people to retrain, reskill and have a plan in place to support ex-workers and their livelihoods.

"Meanwhile young people are being hit the hardest by the unemployment crisis and we need good green jobs now."

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