RenewableUK launches Just Transition Tracker to highlight best practice

The Just Transition Tracker sets out three themes: People, Places and Planet. The People section of the document highlights the importance of creating fair, well-paid jobs for people from a diverse range of backgrounds. It states that the industry will continue to invest in apprenticeships and training, as well as encouraging people to make the transition from other sectors into renewables. It also calls for Government to play its part by setting up a Just Transition Fund to facilitate this. RenewableUK will track and review progress on an annual basis.

The Places section includes a commitment to continue growing the domestic supply chain by increasing the level of UK content in renewable energy projects, which currently stands at 60% for onshore wind and 48% in offshore wind. The document says the industry can build on its current skills in design engineering, construction and operations across the life cycle of each project. This will contribute to the Prime Minister’s levelling up agenda by providing new opportunities across all parts of the country, including the regeneration of coastal communities. The sector will support local training facilities and education programmes using RenewableUK’s Futures Forum events to attract young people into the industry. At a local level the industry will continue to engage with communities, maximising economic benefits for them, and at an international level we will encourage companies in our sector which operate globally to apply the same principles abroad as they do in the UK.

The Planet section focusses on promoting sustainability by reducing imports and encouraging greater sourcing of products and services within the UK, as well as improving recyclability and reusing and repurposing components. It also encourages carbon-intensive industries to switch to low carbon energy sources and promotes the development of a zero carbon grid.

RenewableUK Chair Stephen Bull said: “The energy transition is about so much more than providing low carbon energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Our Just Transition Tracker covers the three themes of people, place and planet. It is a dynamic tool, to showcase current good practice and future actions undertaken by RenewableUK members on their just transition journey. Our hope is not only to bring people together to discuss and raise the profile of a just transition, but also to share proof points demonstrating where and how our members are integrating carbon reductions with lasting business and social benefit”.

RenewableUK’s Deputy Chief Executive Melanie Onn said: “RenewableUK’s member companies are delivering the backbone of our future energy system in the UK and we are working closely with them to do this in a way which provides high-quality jobs for people in all parts of the UK and from all backgrounds. We encourage each other to go the extra mile to protect the environment by sharing best practice and learning lessons, challenging ourselves to set ever higher standards. The principles set out in the Just Transition Tracker reflect our core values and those of our members; we take our responsibilities to people and to the planet seriously and we will work hard to bring about positive change through our actions and decisions. This will ensure that this sector will continue to attract the most talented and highly-motivated people in the decades ahead”.