As the UK races to achieve its net-zero emissions target, a new analysis has revealed that the north of England is poised to play a pivotal role in the country’s green transition. The region’s share of net-zero economic output outpaces the national average, presenting a significant opportunity for the government to prioritise the north as a hub for clean energy and sustainable industries.
The research, published by the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, shows that net-zero activities account for a larger proportion of the north’s regional output compared to the rest of the UK. In Sunderland, where the green sector contributes an even greater share of the local economy, Labour leaders have warned that the rise of Reform UK could jeopardise this progress.
“If making the north a leader in energy transition isn’t front and centre in the growth strategy, how can we expect the national wealth fund or GB Energy to deploy more of their investment up north?” said Julie Elliott, the former Labour MP for Sunderland Central and current chair of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has described clean energy as “the industrial opportunity of the 21st century”, with the UK’s net-zero workforce expected to more than double to 800,000 jobs by 2030. However, experts caution that if these green jobs are prioritised elsewhere, it could “reinforce current disparities” and leave cities like Sunderland and Warrington behind.
“We will only continue to attract more of these well-paid jobs for local people in our city if we keep a Labour council in Sunderland in May,” said Michael Mordey, the Labour leader of Sunderland City Council, who fears that a Reform UK victory would “introduce Trump-like climate change denial policies” that could harm the local economy.
With the north accounting for just over a fifth of the UK’s net-zero output, the region’s leaders are urging Reeves to put the industrial heartland “front and centre” of the government’s decarbonisation strategy. By leveraging the north’s existing strengths in clean energy, the chancellor has the opportunity to support the region’s reindustrialisation, boost productivity, and anchor long-term investment in areas that have struggled to recover from the loss of heavy industry.
As the country navigates the transition to a low-carbon future, the north of England stands poised to play a pivotal role – but only if the government recognises and capitalises on the region’s green potential.
