News on North of Tyne

Building upon the great work that NTCA has already undertaken on climate change, such as the Climate Change Citizens’ Assembly , the Just Transition Project is a new collaborative research endeavour led by the Energy Democracy Project (EDP) that is working to ensure that the move to a low-carbon economy is inclusive and fair for residents and workers in the North of Tyne.

Harnessing Citizen Power to Shape the Net Zero Economy

A shift is underway around the world as we move to a more environmentally friendly economy. But we don’t want to repeat the mistakes of the past. There is no ‘just transition’ without placing workers, communities and organisations at the centre of the process. Therefore, we want to hear from you, so we can plan together for a more sustainable future!

Helen, EDP Just Transition Project Coordinator, said: “It is crucial that citizens of the North of Tyne have a real voice in shaping how we address the climate emergency, and decarbonise society in a fair and democratic way. We want everyone to be involved in a just transition to a ‘Zero Carbon, Zero Poverty’ North of Tyne. A key part of this is to ensure that good-quality, secure, low-carbon jobs are inclusive and accessible to all residents – and that people have the relevant ‘green’ skills required to flourish in a low-carbon economy.”

One of the first steps in this process is the launch of two surveys which were opened today. Please see below for a short description of each and click on the link to take you to the relevant survey:

- a short questionnaire (3 minutes) on the Commonplace Platform open to all people who live or work in the North of Tyne to share their views on the low-carbon economy and the move to sustainable ‘green’ jobs,

- a longer, in-depth survey (15 minutes) to gather the views of workers currently employed in high-carbon industries (such as construction, manufacturing, energy and agriculture) to hear their views about how to plan for the long-term, sustainable jobs and industries of the future.

Elected Metro Mayor for the North of Tyne, Jamie Driscoll said: “We want to ensure that new ‘green jobs’ are inclusive, good-quality, and boost the local economy. We want to learn from your expertise and experience. So, if you live or work in the North of Tyne area, we want to hear from you – so we can make positive changes, together."

EDP wishes to hear from residents and workers anywhere in Newcastle, North Tyneside, or Northumberland on these issues – even if you haven’t thought about them before. The more local voices that have their say, the better we can plan together for environmentally sustainable jobs for our region for years to come. Let us know your views and there is a chance you could win a £50 Eldon Square gift card.

If you would like to find out more about the Just Transition Project or get involved, please contact helen@energydemocracyproject.com

Who are the Energy Democracy Project?

Energy Democracy Project (EDP) was set up in 2003 to support educational and research activities around climate change. It has focused on building support for energy democracy and a just transition in the UK since 2014. EDP focuses on engaging and consulting trade unions, unionised and non-unionised workers, and communities in building visions and pathways for a just and rapid climate transition.