The European Commission says it expects the number of jobs in the energy sector to rise to 3.5 million by 2020.
European Commissioner for Climate Action, Connie Hedegaard, who spoke today in Dublin, said the EU could not afford to sit back on climate action because the economy was bad and that the continued increase in employment in the energy sector is key for the future.
“Action on climate change remains key for our economy and our children’s future,” she said.
“Money invested in renewable energy sources generates three to five times more jobs than investments in fossil fuel energy sources. The EU’s climate policy means that the number of jobs in the renewable energy sector will grow from 1.5 million in 2005 to 3.5 million in 2020. As well as jobs in new technologies, retro-fitting housing stock and building energy infrastructure creates jobs that cannot be exported.”