The UK launches Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
In 2016, the UK’s then-prime minister, Theresa May, disbanded the Department for Energy and Climate Change to create the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy. Now, the UK government announced its business department would be split into separate departments for science, business, and energy. The new Department for Energy Security and Net Zero represents the return of an energy and climate-focused department after seven years.
Now it will remain to be seen if this will be a good move for climate change in the UK. On a positive note, the issue is more visible now with a secretary of state that can focus on climate change and make arguments in the cabinet. The downside: The Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy was quite large and, therefore, had a lot of clout when it came to policy and regulatory development.
So which is better? A small yet focused department or a sizable multi-issue unit? Ultimately, this will come down to political will, but it will be an exciting space to watch in the coming years.
The Inflation Reduction Act adds 100,000 U.S. jobs
A new report by nonprofit Climate Power reports that since President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in August 2022, U.S. companies have announced over 100,000 clean energy jobs.
Where are the jobs coming from? The bill provides incentives and funding for domestic clean energy products—90 new projects have been launched, totaling almost $90 billion in funding. Think new wind, solar, and EV manufacturing, which means new positions for electricians, mechanics, construction workers, and technicians.
Most of the projects (and jobs) are located in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas, but we’re just getting started. The legislation is projected to create more than nine million clean energy and climate-related jobs over the next decade.
Future-proof your business by taking climate action
Request a demo
