Green jobs will aid Scots economy and environment_2

5 Feb 09
Plans to create 16,000 ‘green’ jobs in Scotland will aid the country’s economic recovery and protect the environment, Finance Secretary John Swinney has claimed

06 February 2009

By David Scott

Plans to create 16,000 'green' jobs in Scotland will aid the country's economic recovery and protect the environment, Finance Secretary John Swinney has claimed.

He told a conference in Glasgow on February 2 that the Scottish Government would press ahead with thousands of extra green jobs by harnessing the energy-related opportunities created by Scotland's environment.

Swinney said: 'Our central purpose — to increase sustainable economic growth — commits us to supporting an economy that respects our environment and natural resources.'

Addressing members of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the minister said Scotland already had a much greater share of the UK's natural green energy potential in wave, wind and water but 'we want to see that figure go even higher'.

There are currently around 3,000 Scottish jobs in green energy. The extra jobs would be created in the renewables industry, in developing clean fossil fuel technology, in microgeneration and in sustainable travel methods.

The Green Party in Scotland gave the plan a cautious welcome but Labour said it needed to be backed up by action.

PFfeb2009

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