New Parliamentary briefing highlights role of the green economy in delivering growth and net zero

A new research briefing from the House of Commons Library provides an up-to-date overview of the UK’s “green economy” and its growing importance to both economic policy and climate commitments.

The briefing – The green economy – sets out how the green economy sits at the heart of Government ambitions to deliver economic growth while meeting the UK’s legally binding target of net zero emissions by 2050.

What is the green economy?

The paper explains that the green economy encompasses a wide range of activities that, including those that protect or restore the natural environment, help mitigate or adapt to climate change, and support the transition away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy and sustainable materials.

Importantly, it highlights that these activities extend well beyond clearly defined “green sectors”, with many jobs and businesses contributing indirectly, for example through supply chains or mixed business models.

Scale and growth of green jobs

The briefing draws on data from the Office for National Statistics to show the scale of the UK’s green economy:

• Around 652,000 green jobs were recorded in 2024 (which is about 2% of total UK employment)
• Approximately 304,000 jobs (so nearly half) are within the low carbon and renewable energy economy specifically
• There are an estimated 118,000 businesses operating in this space across the UK

These figures underline the increasing economic significance of nature-based and low-carbon activities.

Challenges in measurement

A key theme of the briefing is the difficulty in defining and measuring the green economy. There is currently no single classification that captures all environmentally beneficial activity, meaning that official statistics may underrepresent its true scale and value.

Relevance for the ecology profession

For CIEEM members, this briefing reinforces the central role of ecological expertise in supporting sustainable growth. As the green economy expands, professional ecologists and environmental managers are critical to delivering nature-positive development, supporting climate adaptation and resilience, and ensuring that economic growth is underpinned by healthy ecosystems.

The analysis highlights a clear opportunity for embedding ecological skills and evidence at the heart of decision-making, which will be essential to unlocking the full potential of the green economy.

Looking for a green job in nature?

If you or someone you know is interested in joining the green economy and looking for a nature-related job, please do have a look at the Green Jobs for Nature website.