Green economy

What is a green economy?

At IEMA, we define a green economy as:

“A potential future state of the whole UK economy in which fundamental change in the way the economy functions, not unlike the first industrial revolution, has taken place.

Growth will continue to be the essential motif of our economy, but its measurement will be more holistic, more consistently factoring in people and planet alongside profit. For example, we will quantify and value biodiversity as we quantify and value domestic production.”

This is not a different or separate economy, but an evolved economy.

A UK focus for the Green Careers Hub

In the UK, the government has key ambitions and targets relating to the green agenda, and it is a focus for several different government departments. According to research by the Economy 2030 Inquiry, ‘the Government has stated its intention to lead the world into a new ‘Green Industrial Revolution’, by investing in clean technologies such as wind, carbon capture, hydrogen and others. High-carbon industries in particular will see significant change in terms of technologies, processes and demand, with implications for those that work in them.’

In England, the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are both vital in terms of setting targets and monitoring progress towards a sustainable economy. With a drive for green skills and jobs, both the Department for Education and the Department for Work and Pensions play a major role in pushing these areas forward.

View key sectors and projects on our UK regional map