North East surging ahead in UK’s green revolution

A NATIONAL report and new polling which shines a spotlight on the ‘net zero economy’ for the first time, shows the North East helping lead the UK’s green revolution – with strong and enthusiastic public support.

The report, called Mapping Net Zero and produced in conjunction with the CBI (Confederation of British Industry), shows that the green economy is already worth £70billion a year nationally and employs more than 140,000 people.

But what’s particularly interesting from a North-East perspective is how areas of the region are surging ahead of the rest of the country in taking up the challenge of transitioning to a green economy and taking advantage of some of the benefits on offer.

Tyneside, Wearside and Teesside are among 20 ‘hot spots’ the report identifies where net zero (which simply means carbon-neutral) makes up a larger-than-average proportion of the local economy. 

London, though, lags behind, suggesting net zero may become a factor in economic ‘levelling-up’.

Along the North East coast, more than 5% of the area’s economic output is provided by the net zero economy, including gigafactories to produce batteries for electric vehicles.

The region’s green economy is boosted by high activity in developing offshore wind – set to grow further as Dogger Bank, one of the world’s largest offshore wind farms, is currently under construction off our coastline.

The report shows that, at 1.14% of the entire economy, net zero businesses in the North East make up the highest percentage of ‘green’ businesses in the whole country.

Scotland and Northern Ireland, (at 1.06% and 1.03%) are the next closest and the only places in the UK where the green economy tops one per cent.

Meanwhile, new polling by YouGov, released alongside the CBI analysis, has found that people from Tyneside down to Teesside see renewable energy and clean technology as the sector most likely to create long-term growth in the local economy, with 41% pointing to it (by comparison, 24% pinned their hopes on the regional construction sector). 

North Easterners also say renewable energy and clean technology is the most important sector for which the government should prioritise support to generate more growth in the region – 46% of people selecting it (compared to 25% selecting construction).

YouGov also found that 60% of people in the region are proud that it has a proportionately larger net zero economy than London.

The net zero businesses identified by the report are diverse. 

They include firms in the energy sector, including renewables, energy storage, demand response and efficiency and low-carbon heating; agri-tech and carbon capture; waste management and recycling; low-emission vehicles; and low-carbon consultancy and green finance.

Other findings in the YouGov report included:

• Around two-thirds (64%) of people back the UK’s net zero target.
  
• Of those not retired, nearly half (46%) are interested in working for a company involved in green technology.
  
• Nearly half of people (46%) say they are worried the local economy risks being left behind in maximising long-term investment in renewable energy, electric cars and clean technologies unless more is done.
  
• 42% would like to see their local MP push harder for more ambitious, faster government targets and action on climate change.
  
• 77% would support a new onshore wind farm or solar energy park being built in the region.