Climate groups, supported by trade unions, are calling for the government to allocate £1.9 billion annually to help oil and gas workers transition into clean energy roles. The initiative, endorsed by major UK trade unions, involves 65 organisations urging Chancellor Rachel Reeves to secure funding until 2030 to facilitate the shift towards renewable energy jobs.
The organisations, including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Extinction Rebellion, and others, are advocating for the government to implement a national industrial strategy that focuses on public investment in domestic renewable energy manufacturing, skills development, and expansion of publicly-owned energy production. Specifically, they are seeking £1.1 billion per year for creating sustainable jobs in public and community-owned wind manufacturing, £440 million annually for port upgrades to streamline green energy supply chains, and £355 million per year for a dedicated training fund for offshore oil and gas workers.
This call to action has received the backing of Unite, the largest union representing offshore oil and gas workers, as well as several other prominent trade unions. The aim is to support workers in transitioning from traditional fossil fuel sectors to clean energy industries in a fair and sustainable manner.
While the government has set ambitious targets to become a clean energy superpower by 2030 and has announced plans for a publicly-owned clean energy company, concerns persist regarding the impact on jobs in the fossil fuel sector. The letter to the Chancellor highlights the need for proactive measures to address job losses, insufficient job growth in offshore wind, and inadequate training programmes in the renewable energy sector.
The plea stresses the importance of prioritising worker justice and creating sustainable green jobs within the UK’s renewable energy strategy. The focus is on ensuring a smooth transition for oil and gas workers into green energy roles, supported by robust public funding. The coalition of unions, workers, and climate groups is emphasising the urgency of implementing a comprehensive transition plan and calling on the government to take decisive action to safeguard the future of workers in the energy sector.