North England must be at the forefront of the UK's net zero strategy, with Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, under pressure to put the region firmly at the heart of this effort. Research suggests that clean energy already plays a disproportionately large role in the north's economy compared to the rest of the country.
Industry experts and politicians alike are urging caution as the transition to net zero presents both opportunities and risks for the region. While Treasury backing could support reindustrialisation, raise productivity and anchor long-term investment, prioritising other areas could reinforce existing disparities and leave cities such as Sunderland and Warrington behind.
Key figures like Julie Elliott, chair of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, believe a forward-thinking approach is essential to harnessing clean energy's potential in the north. The sector already supports 140,000 jobs across the region - nearly twice the national average - with Sunderland, Tyneside, Warrington and Darlington all witnessing significant growth.
Reeves has hailed clean energy as "the industrial opportunity of the 21st century" and expects the UK's net zero workforce to more than double by 2030. However, Labour leaders are warning that a shift away from the north could have devastating consequences for Sunderland, which currently sees clean energy contributing up to 6-7% of its economic output.
As Reform UK is expected to gain control of hundreds of council seats across the region in May's local elections, many fear that the party's climate change policies will be detrimental to the economy. Michael Mordey, Labour leader of Sunderland city council, has warned that Trump-like climate change denial policies could "harm the economy" if Reform UK were to come to power.
The push for a more inclusive approach to net zero is gaining momentum, with leaders calling on Reeves to put the north firmly at the forefront of this strategy. As clean energy continues to drive growth and innovation in the region, it remains to be seen how the government will respond to these calls.
Industry experts and politicians alike are urging caution as the transition to net zero presents both opportunities and risks for the region. While Treasury backing could support reindustrialisation, raise productivity and anchor long-term investment, prioritising other areas could reinforce existing disparities and leave cities such as Sunderland and Warrington behind.
Key figures like Julie Elliott, chair of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, believe a forward-thinking approach is essential to harnessing clean energy's potential in the north. The sector already supports 140,000 jobs across the region - nearly twice the national average - with Sunderland, Tyneside, Warrington and Darlington all witnessing significant growth.
Reeves has hailed clean energy as "the industrial opportunity of the 21st century" and expects the UK's net zero workforce to more than double by 2030. However, Labour leaders are warning that a shift away from the north could have devastating consequences for Sunderland, which currently sees clean energy contributing up to 6-7% of its economic output.
As Reform UK is expected to gain control of hundreds of council seats across the region in May's local elections, many fear that the party's climate change policies will be detrimental to the economy. Michael Mordey, Labour leader of Sunderland city council, has warned that Trump-like climate change denial policies could "harm the economy" if Reform UK were to come to power.
The push for a more inclusive approach to net zero is gaining momentum, with leaders calling on Reeves to put the north firmly at the forefront of this strategy. As clean energy continues to drive growth and innovation in the region, it remains to be seen how the government will respond to these calls.
I'm so stoked about this clean energy thing! North England is like, totally ripe for the taking when it comes to net zero. The jobs stats are insane - 140k+ jobs already and growing fast! 
It's not just about the numbers tho, Sunderland needs this stuff to survive. If we don't prioritize the north, it'll be left behind. That can't happen! 
Reform UK's climate change policies better not be a disaster for our economy... I mean, come on, who doesn't want clean energy? It's the future, innit? 
We need more leaders like Julie Elliott who get it. Can we pls just make this happen already? 
! It's time for Rachel Reeves to put her money where her mouth is - or rather, where her Chancellor's budget goes 
. The North England is already killing it when it comes to clean energy, but if we don't keep the momentum going, the rest of the country will be left in the dust 
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. The government needs to get real about its commitment to net zero and make sure it's not just a bunch of empty promises 
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. Clean energy is already super important for that city, but if they don't get any more support from the government, it could go downhill fast 
. The industry experts are right about the risks and opportunities, but we need more than just caution from the government - we need a plan! 
What if they prioritize other areas instead? That would be so unfair to cities like Sunderland 
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If they don't put them at the forefront, Sunderland might suffer big time 
gotta say, I think its a no-brainer for North England to be at the forefront of net zero strategy - those 140k jobs are already a big deal! 
I mean, they're already supporting way more jobs than anywhere else in the country. It's like they're just waiting for someone to come along and say "Hey, you're doing this stuff really well, here's even more money to make it happen!" 
It'd be crazy if we just left them high and dry when they're already killing it in this department. 
The thought of Sunderland relying on clean energy for 6-7% of its economy is just not convincing to me 
. And let's not forget the cost of transitioning to net zero - it's gonna be a financial burden, especially for smaller cities like Warrington 
. reform uk's climate change policies are also a thing to watch out for, as they could potentially harm the economy if they're not careful...
. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE MONEY, IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE OUR COMMUNITIES THRIVE 
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. I'm all about supporting industries that can bring in more cash and create jobs, but we also need to make sure everyone is on board with this whole clean energy thing 
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. We need leaders who are gonna think about the bigger picture and not just, like, follow their own agenda 
. That's the kind of inclusive approach we need 
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, we need that clean energy money ASAP 
, Sunderland needs our government to back them up 
. The 140k jobs already created by clean energy is a sick number, and if we can just keep growing those numbers, I reckon the North will be unstoppable 
. We can't just leave cities like Sunderland behind while they're trying to transition to a cleaner energy future - that's not fair to the people living there. Plus, with Reform UK on the rise in local elections, we need some politicians who actually care about the environment and the economy 
. I mean, they're already doing better than the rest of the country when it comes to clean energy and jobs in that sector – 140,000 people are already benefiting from it! And with Sunderland, Tyneside, Warrington, and Darlington all seeing growth, it's clear that a forward-thinking approach could really pay off.
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. Let's hope Rachel Reeves is all ears on this one 
. Those Trump-like policies could really harm the local economy, especially with clean energy contributing so much to their output. It's like they're trying to turn back the clock or something 
. While Treasury backing could be a boon for reindustrialization and long-term investment, prioritizing other areas risks exacerbating regional disparities 
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its like they got 140k ppl workin in the sector already & thats double national avg 
Reform UK dont wanna help either gonna be a disaster if dey come in