Green economy could create 10,000 jobs in Ireland by 2015

The green economy has the potential to create 10,000 extra jobs in Ireland by 2015 according to a report published today by the country’s jobs minister, Richard Bruton.

The report, titled Delivering our Green Potential, the Government’s Policy Statement on Growth and Employment in the Green Economy, estimates that an additional 10,000 jobs could be created in Ireland in “certain green economy activities” by 2015, if a number of actions committed to by the Irish government are delivered upon.

Actionable commitments to be delivered by the Irish government include;

• an average of 200mW of new renewable energy be added to the country’s grid each year
• introduce legislation to provide for a new offshore licensing and permitting system
• replace the Better Energy Homes scheme with a Pay As You Save scheme in 2014
• work with Irish companies to identify and develop export opportunities for green products
• attract more green financial services companies to Ireland
• support sustainable approach to agriculture
• target growth in green tourism
• support R&D in areas like sustainable food, marine renewable energy and smart grids

Globally, the green economy is big business. It employs 30 million people, is worth $5 trillion a year and is growing at a rate of 3.7% year on year.

Bruton explains how the green economy will ensure job creation into the future,

“We are targeting growth across the range of activities in the green economy – renewable energy, energy efficiency, financial services, agriculture, tourism, waste and water management, green products and services and low carbon transport. We are putting in place the proper supports through our research and development systems to ensure that we can create not only the companies that will create jobs in this decade but also the businesses that will create the jobs we need in the 2020s.”