The skills shortage is undermining efforts to reduce carbon emissions and effectively tackle the climate crisis, local authority leaders in London have warned.
A new report from London Councils has mapped London government skills activity to identify gaps, duplication and areas that need better co-ordination.
The number of green jobs is expected to grow by 505,000 by 2030 and increase to over a million jobs by 2050.
However, the Green Skills report found that many industries and occupations are experiencing skills shortages.
It found, for example, that there is a growing need for workers in the construction industry to retrofit homes and buildings to make them more energy efficient, and to install and maintain electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure.
The cross-party body said that a lack of long term funding to invest in the green economy is the main challenge.
The group recommended the development of a net zero skills strategy and action plan over the next five years for London.
Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz, London Councils’ executive member for Skills and Employment, said: ‘London boroughs are committed to achieving net zero and doubling the size of the green economy by 2030. There is so much potential for driving economic growth and giving Londoners of all backgrounds access to jobs as we transition to a low carbon way of living. But the lack of investment in green skills is putting the brakes on these plans.’
