Carbon Cuts could create construction jobs
New guidelines set by the UK Green Building Council to cut carbon emissions could lead to the creation of thousands of new jobs in construction.
A target for a reduction of 50% of CO2 emmissions was announced this week at the industry body's annual conference. Chief Executive Paul King said that workers in construction and building jobs had an important role to play in helping the government meet its international obligations to reduce CO2 output by 34 percent by 2020.
"Taking on this challenge would create thousands of new jobs, boosting the UK economy and supporting our recovery" said King, speaking at the Making Sustainable Development Happen conference.
"It would benefit business and consumers by reducing their energy costs while improving the comfort of our homes and buildings".
"We drastically need to cut emissions from all sectors, but the built environment offers the best cost-effective opportunity to do that. We have the technology and the know-how in the industry, but we haven't managed to mainstream these yet."
"I do not underestimate the size of the challenge, but I believe that by working together with government, industry and building occupiers, we can deliver cuts of 50% by 2020"