£40 million announced to fund green jobs
Posted by: Defra Press Office, Posted on:1 July 2020
Defra: Yesterday (June 30) we announced a fund of up to £40 million to create jobs in nature recovery and conservation to kick start the nation’s green recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
Plans to create thousands of new jobs to kick-start the nation’s green recovery from the coronavirus pandemic were unveiled by the government today.
The £40 million Green Recovery Challenge Fund will bring forward funding to help charities and environmental organisations start work on projects across England to restore nature and tackle climate change. The fund will help conservation organisations and their suppliers create up to 3,000 jobs and safeguard up to 2,000 others in areas such as protecting species, finding nature-based solutions to tackling climate change, conservation rangers and connecting people with the outdoors.
Environment Secretary George Eustice said:
Our ambitious green recovery package will deliver a steady stream of shovel-ready environmental projects, protecting nature at the same time as creating and retaining thousands of new jobs.
Many of us have become even more appreciative of nature during lockdown and our Green Recovery Challenge Fund will help charities and other organisations’ employ more people to work on tree-planting, nature restoration and helping the public enjoy the outdoors.
Natural England Chair Tony Juniper said:
Coronavirus has shown us even more starkly how vital access to a thriving natural environment is to everybody’s health and wellbeing. This new fund will kick start nature’s recovery by building partnerships across the country, in towns and cities and in rural areas.
It’s also an unprecedented opportunity to build new careers for people from all walks of life to create the environment we need for the future. This green recovery funding support formed part of a wider package to boost the economy announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and will help “build back a greener and more beautiful Britain”.