“This is a case of recycling previous news and repurposing money, not new funding.” “
“But in one way there is a mini-revolution here: In the past, and in the parsimonious eyes of treasury officials, green stuff = cost. There is now a new orthodoxy that green stuff = jobs.”
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The government has announced its “green jobs challenge fund”:
The £40 million Green Recovery Challenge Fund will bring forward funding to help charities and environmental organisations start work on projects across England to restore nature and tackle climate change.
Government announces £40 million green jobs challenge fund – GOV.UK
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There are all sorts of headline initiatives:
Jobless could be employed to plant trees | News | The Times
PM Johnson wants to create more national parks | The Planner
Boris Johnson wants a Green Industrial Revolution that bans new petrol cars, adds jobs – MarketWatch
The UK’s new Green Industrial Revolution: the energy standouts – Electrek
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As a Sid Valley commentator suggests, however:
“Reading between the lines of the official release, this is a case of recycling previous news and repurposing money, not new funding. We are unlikely to benefit unless groups can bid to employ extra rangers or education workers.”
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Here’s a full analysis from The Ecologist:
A 10-point green industrial revolution?
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has unveiled his 10-point plan for a green industrial revolution. What areas does it focus on and why are they important?
A 10-point green industrial revolution?
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And another from the BBC:
Is this really a green revolution?
But in one way there is a mini-revolution here.
In the past, and in the parsimonious eyes of treasury officials, green stuff = cost. There is now a new orthodoxy that green stuff = jobs.
The government is very keen for these measures to be seen as not only steps towards hitting a climate target but a way of creating jobs in a post-Covid world. The bigger the project, the more jobs it creates, the more favourably the government will look at it. That’s a new shade of green for a Conservative government.
Is this really a green revolution? – BBC News
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And here are several views from the States:
$16 Billion Won’t Buy a Green Industrial Revolution
Some of the prime minister’s new environmental targets are ambitious. But following the money doesn’t get you far.
Boris Johnson’s new 10-point “green industrial revolution” for tackling climate change shows this government is capable of big thinking, in case anyone watching Brexit was wondering. Unfortunately, the prime minister’s budget spend of 12 billion pounds ($15.9 billion) doesn’t live up to the overall ambition of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050…
Welcome to Boris Johnson’s Green Industrial Revolution – Bloomberg
Boris Johnson Lays Out U.K. Plan for a ‘Green Industrial Revolution’ – The New York Times
Boris Johnson proposes Green Industrial Revolution for Britain – The Washington Post