Young people demand green jobs on Earth Overshoot Day
- The COVID-19 pandemic has made 49% of young people worry about their future career.
- Half of young Brits want a job in the green economy to protect the planet.
- Majority (58%) think that climate breakdown is our next big global crisis.
To mark Earth Overshoot Day on 22 August, Good Energy, the renewable power company, has partnered with the Orchestra for the Earth to raise awareness of young people’s desire to protect the planet and work in the green economy.
Orchestra for the Earth perform at Delabole wind farm in North Cornwall. Photo credit: Emily Whitfield-Wicks/PA Wire.
Earth Overshoot Day is when humanity’s demand on nature exceeds what the earth’s ecosystems can renew in a year. The collaboration has seen young climate activist musicians perform with wind instruments in front of wind turbines at Delabole wind farm in North Cornwall, which was the UK’s first wind farm, built in 1991.
A new survey commissioned by Good Energy of over 1,000 young people aged 18 – 34*, has found that half (50%) of young Brits want a job that helps protect the planet, and 45% consider sustainable sectors to offer a more secure career path than those that pollute the environment.
The survey found that the majority (57%) of young people would prefer to work for an environmentally sustainable business and nearly half (49%) worry about their future career following the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is supported by data from ethical and sustainable job website ForPurposeJobs.com, which launched earlier this year and has seen traffic double month on month, with +60% of users under the age of 34.
The call to action comes at a time when climate change has been identified by the Met Office to be driving the UK’s recent extreme weather events, and the Local Government Association has revealed that the UK could create almost 700,000 new green jobs by 2030, and a further 488,000 by 2050, with the right support.
Juliet Davenport, climate scientist and founder of Good Energy, states: “Earth Overshoot Day reminds us all that we are using more resources than our planet can afford to give. On this day, we want to highlight what the transition to a green economy would mean for future generations
“Young people understand the volatile position we are in and want Government and business to act so that we move the date back before it is too late. We owe it to future generations to prioritise a green recovery today. For better jobs, greener lives and a more hopeful future.”
Lorraine Hart, climate activist and musician in the Orchestra for the Earth, commented: “I’m frightened for the future of our planet and the career prospects for my generation coming out of this pandemic. We are here today to urge the government to act and highlighted the incredible power and opportunity that renewable energy brings.”
Rhiannon Barriball, recent geography graduate and Good Energy Clean Energy Specialist, said: “If I had a choice of working for two companies that did the same thing but one made an effort not to cause damage to the environment then why wouldn’t I choose to work for them? I’m really proud to say that I work for a company that considers its environmental impact and works to improve it.”
The survey uncovered that over half (58%) of young people think that climate breakdown is our next big global crisis after COVID-19, but just 29% understand what Earth Overshoot Day is.
In good news for green jobs, sustainability and renewable energy proved to be a more attractive sector for a future career than a job as a social media influencer (10%) or in retail (8%). The fossil fuels industry was the least attractive sector to young people, with just 6% saying they would like a career in it.
The full video of the Orchestra for the Earth performing Mozart’s Serenade No. 10 for winds in B-flat major (K. 361/370a) can be viewed online here.
* The survey of 1,008 young people aged 18 – 34 was conducted by Opinium in August 2020 and balanced demographically by age, region and gender.