The Green Party has called for an urgent green transition to create new jobs in Wales following the announcement of a deal with the UK government to keep Port Talbot's steelworks open but with potentially 3,000 job losses. [1]
Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay said:
“The steel industry is a crucial part of the UK’s economy and has been the backbone of communities up and down the country for generations.
“However, the deal done today highlights the serious lack of investment by both Conservative and Labour governments in future-proofing our economy and ensuring we are able to transition to a greener, more sustainable future while protecting people and the places they live.
“It is simply inexcusable that the government is willing to inflict real damage on to this south Wales community, with a deal that will see thousands of jobs lost. This is not the fair transition to a greener future that people across the UK need or deserve.
“Instead of looking to penny-pinch, the government should be investing now in a green transition, creating millions of jobs through expanding renewables, insulating homes and investing in other more sustainable opportunities.
“We know transitioning to a green economy could create up to a million jobs. If the government had invested in the transition over the last few decades we could have avoided the potentially devastating consequences we are seeing in Port Talbot today.
“That is why we are calling on the government to urgently invest now in decarbonising our economy and building the green jobs we so desperately need.”
ENDS
Notes
1
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-66819458
For further information or to arrange an interview please contact the Press Office press@greenparty.org.uk / 0203 691 9401