Green Jobs Action Day took place on March 24. It was organised by Green New Deal UK and backed by campaigners across the country. I took part in a short film interview with Green New Deal UK, joining the sea of voices calling for a greener and sustainable future. We hear a lot about terms like Green New Deal and Green Jobs so I wanted to use my column to dive into what they mean and why they are so important for our city and our planet.

According to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC), the worst impacts of climate change could be irreversible by 2030. The year 2019 was the second-hottest on record, with the global average temperature 1.1C above the pre-Industrial period.

Every fraction of a degree of global warming will bring more risks to health, food security and water supply.

This year is a make or break year to make a real impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In November the UN climate change conference will be held in Glasgow which will put the UK in the spotlight and is a call to action for us to show the world what we can do.

We know the risks of inaction. That’s why we as a council declared a climate emergency. That’s why I stood on a Labour manifesto pledge to take all action to make our city carbon neutral by 2030. That’s why we set up the climate assembly. It is also why I believe in a Green New Deal and a recovery from the pandemic that doesn’t just return our economy to the pre-pandemic “normal” settlement that saw us creeping towards climate catastrophe and ever-widening inequality.

We need to ensure we “Build Back Better” and foster a sustainable economic recovery based on green jobs and decarbonisation.

The concept of a Green New Deal is fundamentally about transforming our economy. A Green New Deal would rebalance the economy to ensure climate, economic and social justice are at its heart.

There are some fundamental pillars that would underpin any Green New Deal. These include decarbonising the economy and ending our reliance on fossil fuels. Creating new and secure, well-paid and future-proof green jobs. Reshaping the financial system to serve the needs of people and the planet. Protecting and restoring vital wildlife habitats and carbon sinks. Promoting global justice and doing our part to help the rest of the world build fair, clean and healthy economies. At the heart of Labour’s General Election manifesto was a pledge to kickstart a green industrial revolution of over a million new green jobs, underpinning a Green New Deal that would not only decarbonise but also rebalance the economy and tackle fuel poverty. We now need the government to take up this mantle and urgently invest in new green jobs.

Green jobs are jobs that help us move to a post-carbon economy and a fairer society. We need a lot of them in Brighton and Hove to get to carbon net zero by 2030.

Installing wind turbines and solar panels, insulating homes, rewilding and building green infrastructure are all examples of green jobs, and there are growing opportunities in our city to take these on. The Rampion offshore wind farm is seeking to expand, the council is installing solar panels on new and existing council homes, we are rolling out electric vehicle charging points, and the bus company is looking to increase its number of low-emission vehicles.

If we are to reach carbon neutral within the decade, we’re going to need to look at a range of things that will create new green jobs in the city. Such as building more green infrastructure and opportunities for active travel. That will mean creating a car-free liveable city centre, and a safe network of walking and cycling routes across the city. We’re also going to need to look at retro-fitting homes so they are better insulated, run on renewable energies and have a lighter carbon footprint. That will also tackle fuel poverty by bringing down energy bills.

I’m proud of the Labour administration that began this work to move our city towards carbon neutrality, and in opposition we continue to work constructively with all parties towards reaching that goal. Every single person in the city has a role to play to in combating the climate crisis too. Don’t feel powerless. Every step you take to reduce your carbon footprint makes a difference, and you can also lobby your councillors and MPs to take more swift and robust action.

The pandemic has meant a sharp rise in unemployment and the economy has taken a major hit. By lobbying the government to urgently invest in green jobs, we can tackle unemployment, fuel poverty and the climate crisis at the same time.