England and Wales could slash greenhouse gas emissions and create at least 70,000 jobs if councils would help insulate homes and businesses and fit green energy to buildings, according to new research from Friends of the Earth.

The research by Carbon Descent — advisors to councils on climate change — was published to launch a new nationwide campaign calling for local councils take urgent action to cut CO2 emissions.

The campaign, “Get Serious About CO2,” turns the spotlight on the large part that local councils need to play in cutting the UK’s carbon emissions. The campaign calls on councils to commit to cutting carbon dioxide emissions in their local area by at least 40 per cent by 2020, and to produce an action plan detailing how they will make the cuts.

The new research analyses the manpower required to insulate homes and businesses and install green energy on buildings — two of the key ways in which councils could achieve a reduction in their emissions of at least 40 per cent by 2020.

New jobs could be available as loft laggers, architects, plumbers, builders, electricians, plasterers and insulation specialists — with new admin, transit and warehouse positions also created to support the installation of insulation and renewable energy.

Some local councils are already putting in place schemes like those modelled in the research. For example, Kirklees Council in Yorkshire has created 120 jobs through insulating 21,000 homes.

Unless rich countries like the UK cut their emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020, climate change will make a billion of the poorest people in the world homeless. People in the UK will also be affected by increased flooding, droughts, rising food prices and economic instability.

“Local councils must play a big part in slashing the UK’s carbon emissions to help avoid runaway climate change,” said Andy Atkins, executive director of Friends of the Earth. “With the economy in such a sorry state at the moment, our towns, cities and villages could really use a boost from new green jobs.”

Atkins added, “Some pioneering councils are already leading the way through comprehensive home insulation programmes and installing green energy like solar panels to buildings. If every council in England and Wales took action too they could create 70,000 new jobs, cut fuel bills and make people’s homes more snug.”

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