Responding to the Mayor’s economic recovery proposals, Darren Johnson, Green Party London Assembly Member, is calling on the Mayor and Government to invest immediately in schemes which will both tackle climate change and create jobs.
"The mayor’s energy plans are heading in the right direction, but completely inadequate. He is claiming that Londoners will be helped to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, but he still hasn’t given me a solid figure. Despite questioning the mayor about this issue, over several months, he has still not given a clear answer. I don’t know if the mayor will be spending a hundred million, or a hundred thousand."
"A London-wide programme to improve the energy efficiency of all homes could create up to 15,000 new jobs for builders, joiners, plumbers, electricians, roofers, heating and structural engineers and builders’ supply merchants until 2025. Their work could lead to an 80% reduction in domestic emissions."
"With many Londoners facing unemployment and the urgent need to tackle climate change, it is vital that new jobs like this are created. Such a programme could, and should, begin tomorrow."
ENDS
Notes to editors
Action 37 of the Mayor’s action plan says that the Mayor will help householders and London boroughs improve the energy efficiency of their homes through the £130 million Targeted Funding Stream.
Job figures on energy efficiency scheme have been estimated by Darren using information in the report ‘Home Truths; a low carbon strategy to reduce UK housing emissions by 80% by 2050’ (Boardman 2007) http://www.eci.ox.ac.uk/research/energy/downloads/boardman07-hometruths.pdf .
Job figures on a green economic sector have been estimated by Darren using information in the Government’s Manufacturing Strategy.