£80m government funding to kickstart UK’s “green revolution”

The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has today unveiled new plans to kickstart the country’s “green revolution” with £80m funding.

The Prime Minister has revealed his Ten Point Plan as part of his ‘green recovery’, with the Green Recovery Challenge Fund earmarked for investment into the nationwide project.

The plan involves the expansion of protected landscapes, increased access to nature, stronger flood resilience, and the creation and retention of thousands of green jobs. It also confirms that new national parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) will be created, as well as 10 Landscape Recovery projects. Environment Secretary George Eustice commented: “We are committed to driving forward a green revolution as we build back better and greener from the pandemic, and the Ten Point Plan provides a crucial vehicle to help us shape a cleaner and more resilient society.

“Our Green Recovery Challenge Fund received an overwhelming response, and this additional funding will help support even more environmental projects to help tackle the nature and climate crisis.”

Sir William Worsley, chair of the Forestry Commission, added: “I welcome the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan and look forward to working with our partners as we drive forward the nation’s green recovery.

“The Green Recovery Challenge Fund will support projects that will create much-needed green jobs in the environmental and forestry sectors, and will help deliver government’s ambitious tree planting and net zero commitments.

“Through these initiatives, we are committed to ensuring the right trees are planted in the right places, for the right reasons - be that carbon capture; homes for wildlife, tree planting near rivers to protect land and property from flooding; or providing timber, fuel and energy for business and communities.”

Lucy Winskell, OBE, chair of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), commented on the news :“The North East’s geographic, social and economic characteristics, coupled with its clean growth strengths, means it is well placed to deliver at pace and at scale on the government’s ten-point plan ambitions announced today. These represent a transformational opportunity for the region’s economy.

“A greener and more inclusive economy is at the heart of the COVID-19 Economic Recovery plan for the region and we will continue to work closely with government and industry to play our part in the green industrial revolution, creating greener jobs and investing in greener transport options and industries of the future.”