Scottish Greens pledge 40,000 green jobs boost for just transition
The Scottish Greens have today pledged to deliver 40,000 new green energy jobs in Scotland by the end of the next Parliament, to build a fairer and cleaner economy.
Under the party’s proposed Green Industrial Mission, public investment would be directed towards offshore wind, tidal and wave energy, green supply chains, and renewables manufacturing, with a focus on ensuring jobs and wealth are created and kept in Scotland.
Scotland is in a climate emergency, but despite repeated warnings from the Scottish Greens and industry experts, there is still no credible pathway for oil and gas workers to move into secure green jobs.
Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon declared a climate emergency in 2019 and later stated her opposition to new North Sea oil and gas fields. Under John Swinney though, the Scottish Government has reversed this position and opened the door to new oil and gas drilling.
A just transition must be a jobs strategy as much as a climate strategy, with clear pathways for oil and gas workers to move into secure, well-paid and long-term work. The Scottish Greens’ plan would tie public investment to fair work standards, backing employers who pay the real Living Wage, recognise trade unions, invest in skills and keep jobs in local communities.
Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer said:
“Scotland was one of the first countries in the world to declare a climate emergency. Instead of actually treating it like an emergency though, governments in Westminster and Holyrood have dithered, delayed and watered down their promises and left workers to pick up the pieces.
“Opening new oil and gas fields in the North Sea won’t cut bills, but it will make the climate crisis much worse and take investment away from green industries. The Scottish Government is letting down communities by doubling down on a declining industry and failing to plan for when those jobs inevitably disappear.
“But with the right investment, and the right rules, we can create tens of thousands of well-paid jobs across Scotland. That can only happen with strong leadership from government.
“We’ve recently seen workers let down at the Mossmorran site. The Scottish Government knew the closure was coming and agreed to Green proposals that they produce a just transition plan for the workers at risk of losing their jobs, but they completely failed to deliver it. Hundreds of people lost their jobs without a support plan in place.
“The UK Labour Government is also failing to deliver the just transition workers were promised. Instead of investing at the pace needed in Scotland’s world-leading renewables potential, Labour is pushing costly nuclear projects, unproven technology like Carbon Capture and Storage, and continuing reliance on oil and gas.
“It’s clear that neither government has a plan. That is not just a climate failure, it is a breach of trust with voters and a failure to give workers the stability they deserve. That’s why the Scottish Greens are committed to delivering 40,000 green jobs over the next five years, providing long-term, secure opportunities for workers across Scotland energy sectors in particular.”
Ross added:
“We know that Scotland has plenty of wind, tidal and even solar energy potential, and we know that tens of thousands of oil and gas workers already have the skills needed to move into offshore renewables. All that’s missing is the political will to do it.
“That means treating the climate crisis like the emergency it is, and delivering a real industrial strategy that creates tens of thousands of secure, unionised green jobs, with clear pathways for oil and gas workers to move into them.
“Oil and gas corporations are raking in eye-watering profits, but they are shedding jobs in Scotland. Instead of throwing more public money at them through grants and tax breaks, we need to focus on growing Scottish manufacturing, building strong domestic supply chains and supporting co-operatives and employee-owned businesses that keep their profits in Scotland rather than pouring them into offshore tax havens.
“The Scottish Greens are honest about what this transition requires. We are the only party with a real plan to protect workers from the unavoidable decline of the oil and gas industry.
“On 7th May lets demand better for Scottish workers. Vote Scottish Greens for a plan to create high quality, lasting jobs in the industries of the future”
