Green jobs mean exciting future for people of Tees Valley, say area’s politicians

POLITICIANS from across the political spectrum have underlined the importance of the green transition and green jobs for the future prosperity of Teesside.

Jacob Young, Tory MP for Redcar and Cleveland, independent Mayor of Middlesbrough Andy Preston and former Lib-Dem mayor of Redcar and Cleveland Council, Coun Carole Morgan, all talked up the value of environmentally friendly jobs at a weekend event held to draw attention to green growth in the Tees Valley.

National climate charity Hope For The Future (HFTF) – which exists to bring politicians and their constituents together to constructively discuss climate issues – was at Ormesby Hall’s ‘Love Local’ day on Sunday.

It was the first time the annual event has been held at the National Trust property since the outbreak of Covid-19 and the centrepiece was a marquee in which HFTF put the issue of green jobs in the Tees Valley under the spotlight, bringing together local politicians and their constituents to consider Teesside’s burgeoning green industries and innovation.

Mr Young applauded the charity’s work and said: “In the Tees Valley we’re fast becoming the centre of the green revolution.

“We led the world in the first industrial revolution, building bridges that spanned rivers right across the world, and now we’re leading the world in the green industrial revolution, with things like carbon capture and storage, wind power, solar power and the production of hydrogen, so it’s all happening here on Teesside.

“We’re fast becoming the centre of excellence for green technology and that’s a great thing.”

Middlesbrough’s Mayor, Andy Preston, said: “I’m really proud of our history and heavy industry, and the steel and the shipbuilding and the chemicals, things that built our towns and our families over the years – but now we can be proud of what we’re doing now and what’s coming in the future, which is the green energy, the green revolution.

“Middlesbrough and Teesside is very much at the forefront of that … and bring it on!

“This is the new Teesside, the greener, more positive, more ambitious Teesside – more ambitious than ever before.”

And Carole Morgan, a Lib-Dem councillor, who represents the Ormesby and Nunthorpe ward and is a frequent visitor to Ormesby Hall, said: “We’ve got the TeesWorks site that’s got a lot of green energy happening there, so that’s fantastic for jobs, fantastic for the borough as a whole.

“It gives everybody a lift when they know there are some great jobs coming on and it’s going to be looking after the climate as well.”

Event organiser Steven Sahota, HFTF’s North of England and Scotland co-ordinator, said: “We were delighted to be joined by Jacob, Andy and Carole and others on the political scene, including Jessie Joe Jacobs, who engaged in conversations with dozens of people about the green transition.

“If we’re going to give ourselves the best chance of tackling climate change and improving the environment locally, nationally and internationally, it has to start with conversations like this, which bring together constituents and the people that represent them.

“Ormesby Hall was the first event on a nationwide tour we’re undertaking to raise the profile of environmental issues and to talk positively about what politicians and people can do, and it could not have got off to a better start.

“The weather was lovely, the visitors were interested and engaging and we felt that we were able to get some positive and upbeat messages out there about what individuals and groups can do.

“We had displays on solar panels and air source heat pumps; CPRE, the countryside charity, talked about the need to protect and celebrate the green spaces of the Tees Valley, and we were able to offer training to the public on the best ways to connect with politicians.

“The best thing about the day, though, was seeing political leaders locally showing an interest in the subject and appreciating the value of green jobs and the green transition to the people of the Tees Valley“

Who are Hope For The Future?

• Hope for the Future is a climate charity which works to equip communities, groups and individuals across the country with the skills to communicate the urgency of climate change with their local politicians. 
• Each year, it trains over 1,000 people and works with over 100 MPs and councils across the UK, alongside running community events and school workshops. Its aim is to ensure everyone’s voice is heard as the UK takes action on climate change.

• For more information on the work of Hope for the Future, go to https://www.hftf.org.uk/; for updates on events at Ormesby Hall, go to https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ormesby-hall 

Twitter: @HopeFTFuture

Facebook: @Hope4TFuture

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