The Green Edge Digest Update – February 2025
A listing of all the publications we reviewed last month, categorised and tagged for upload to The Green Edge Digest Database.
UK Skills Revolution
Author/publisher: Lightcast
Publication Date: January 2025
Focus: The report assesses disruptive innovation’s impact on UK labour markets, emphasizing skill transformations necessary for digital and green economic transitions.
Category: Skills Development
Tags: Workforce Development, Digital Transformation, Green Economy, AI Adoption, Training Reform, Economic Growth
Summary: This report highlights a rapid shift in the UK's job market, driven by automation and digital technologies, and the critical need for a skills revolution. Emerging green and digital jobs require widespread reskilling and upskilling, particularly in clean energy, sustainability, AI, and digital literacy. Lightcast calls for proactive policy actions and targeted educational investments to bridge growing skill gaps and support a smooth, inclusive transition to the future workforce.
QS World Future Skills Index
Author/publisher: QS
Publication Date: 2025
Focus: Evaluating national higher education systems' readiness to equip students with critical future-oriented skills amid rapid technological and economic changes.
Category: Higher Education
Tags: Higher Education, Skills-Based Hiring, Digital Transformation, Green Transition, AI Adoption, Workforce Development
Summary: QS introduces its inaugural World Future Skills Index, ranking countries based on preparedness in critical future-oriented skills such as digital literacy, innovation capacity, sustainability, and adaptability. European nations lead in sustainability and innovation, while Asian countries excel in digital literacy. The index highlights the necessity for education systems worldwide to integrate holistic skill development, prioritizing digital fluency and sustainability literacy for global competitiveness.
Navigating the Green Transition: Building Green Skills for a Sustainable Workforce
Author/publisher: World Bank
Publication Date: October 2024
Focus: Analysis of the global workforce implications resulting from climate policies and the adoption of green skills.
Category: Sustainability
Tags: Green Economy, Green Transition, Sustainability, Climate Resilience, Workforce Development, Policy Reform
Summary: This World Bank report emphasizes green skills as crucial for transitioning economies towards sustainability and achieving climate goals. It provides frameworks for identifying, measuring, and scaling green skills globally, noting significant gaps between demand and availability, especially in emerging economies. Recommendations include robust policy frameworks, incentives for private-sector collaboration, and targeted skill-building initiatives to accelerate inclusive green growth.
Environmental Regulation and Green Skills: An Empirical Exploration
Author/publisher: Francesco Vona, Giovanni Marin, Davide Consoli, David Popp
Publication Date: May 2018
Focus: Empirical evaluation of the impact environmental regulations have on green skill adoption within industries.
Category: Regulation
Tags: Environmental Regulation, Green Skills, Workforce Development, Policy Impact, Innovation
Summary: The empirical analysis underscores the positive role of environmental regulations in stimulating the development of green skills in labour markets. Regulation-driven demand significantly accelerates skills acquisition and innovation in sectors facing tighter environmental controls. The study advocates for carefully designed regulatory frameworks that promote environmental goals without adverse employment effects, ensuring a beneficial impact on skill development.
CreaTech Report
Author/publisher: Erskine Analysis
Publication Date: February 2025
Focus: Intersection of creative industries and emerging technologies, defining a strategic approach for economic growth and skill development in the UK.
Category: Innovation
Tags: Innovation, Creative Industries, AI Adoption, Economic Growth, Workforce Development, Digital Transformation
Summary: The CreaTech Report highlights the UK’s rapidly expanding creative-technology sector as a significant growth engine. It identifies emerging creative-tech trends such as immersive media, AI-driven creativity, and digital platforms reshaping arts, entertainment, and marketing. The report underscores substantial economic potential and recommends strategic public-private investments, targeted skill-building, and innovation funding to sustain the UK's global leadership in CreaTech.
London's Economy Today – Green Apprenticeships
Author/publisher: GLA Economics
Publication Date: January 2025
Focus: Evaluation of the status and potential of green apprenticeships as pathways to achieving London's net-zero targets.
Category: Apprenticeships
Tags: Apprenticeships, Green Economy, Workforce Development, Sustainability, Economic Resilience
Summary: This GLA analysis presents London’s ongoing economic recovery, highlighting robust employment growth in tech, green sectors, and finance. Persistent skills shortages in sustainability-related occupations pose significant economic risks. Strategic workforce development, targeted training programmes, and sustained investment in green industries are recommended to secure London's position as a sustainable, future-ready city.
2025 Skills Forecast Technical Report
Author/publisher: Cedefop
Publication Date: December 2024
Focus: Technical forecasting of EU-wide skill demand and supply, emphasizing the implications of green and digital economic transformations.
Category: Forecasting
Tags: Workforce Development, Skills Forecast, Green Transition, Economic Growth, Digital Transformation, Policy Recommendations
Summary: CEDEFOP’s technical report forecasts evolving skill demands across Europe, predicting significant expansion in green, digital, and healthcare sectors. The demand for advanced technical skills and digital literacy intensifies, accompanied by growing emphasis on sustainability competencies across industries. Policy recommendations prioritize vocational education and lifelong learning to equip workers with adaptive skills crucial for Europe's green and digital transitions.
BITC Green Skills Lab: Insights and Lessons
Author/publisher: Business in the Community (BITC)
Publication Date: January 2025
Focus: Practical insights from a corporate learning initiative addressing skills gaps critical for sustainability and net-zero objectives.
Category: Corporate Strategy
Tags: Workforce Development, Green Transition, Sustainability, Corporate Strategy, Skills-Based Hiring, Training Reform
Summary: BITC's Environment and Green Skills Lab highlights successful models for corporate-driven green skill development. It outlines case studies demonstrating effective employer-led strategies that enhance workforce preparedness for sustainability-focused roles. Recommendations include greater collaboration among employers, training providers, and policymakers to scale these effective practices nationwide, reinforcing the UK's green economy transition.
Employment Outlook and the Green Transition
Author/publisher: OECD
Publication Date: 2024
Focus: Analysis of employment impacts from transitioning to net-zero emissions, addressing labour market adjustments and policy responses.
Category: Employment
Tags: Employment, Green Economy, Net Zero, Workforce Development, Economic Impact, Policy Recommendations
Summary: The OECD’s Employment Outlook analyses labour market impacts of the global green transition, emphasizing employment opportunities in renewable energy, sustainable manufacturing, and green construction. It cautions against transition-related job displacement in fossil-fuel-dependent sectors, recommending comprehensive policies for skills development, labour mobility support, and social protection systems to manage equitable workforce transitions.
Assessing Green Job Dynamics in the EU
Author/publisher: European Commission
Publication Date: July 2024
Focus: Comparative assessment of methodologies for identifying and tracking green jobs across the European Union.
Category: Labour Market
Tags: Green Jobs, Methodology, Workforce Development, Economic Growth, Sustainability, Policy Recommendations
Summary: Reviews multiple methods to quantify and analyse green employment, recommending improved data practices to accurately reflect EU labour market shifts driven by sustainability and climate policies.
Green Jobs and the Future of Work
Author/publisher: IMF
Publication Date: September 2024
Focus: Examining how gender equality and STEM education affect the labour market transition to a sustainable, green economy.
Category: Labour Market
Tags: Green Jobs, Labour Market, Gender Equality, STEM Education, Economic Transition, Workforce Development
Summary: The IMF explores labour market implications of the global green transition, highlighting significant opportunities for green job creation alongside potential disruptions in carbon-intensive sectors. It recommends integrated policies combining skills training, fiscal incentives, and supportive social protections to facilitate equitable workforce adjustments, ensuring that benefits of green growth are broadly shared.
Doing Green Things: Skills, Reallocation, and the Green Transition
Author/publisher: OECD
Publication Date: June 2023
Focus: Evaluates the skills and labour reallocation necessary for achieving net-zero targets, using a task-based framework.
Category: Skills and Reallocation
Tags: Green Skills, Labour Reallocation, Green Transition, Workforce Development, Automation
Summary: This OECD study underscores the urgent need for proactive skill reallocation strategies as economies transition to greener technologies. It identifies job mobility challenges and proposes comprehensive skill-mapping initiatives, targeted vocational training, and active labour market policies as critical for minimizing disruption and maximizing employment gains in emerging green sectors.
Clean Energy Jobs Employer Handbook
Author/publisher: Office for Clean Energy Jobs
Publication Date: January 2025
Focus: Guide for UK clean energy employers to recruit, train, and retain a skilled workforce aligned with the Clean Energy Superpower Mission.
Category: Employer Guidance
Tags: Clean Energy, Workforce Development, Recruitment, Training, Apprenticeships, Policy Support
Summary: This handbook provides practical guidance on fostering clean energy employment, presenting global best practices for workforce planning and skills training. It identifies high-potential sectors such as wind, solar, and energy efficiency, advocating policies for targeted education, industry collaboration, and public-private investment partnerships to scale employment opportunities in renewable energy.
Green Education, Training and Employment
Author/publisher: UK Parliament (POST)
Publication Date: February 2025
Focus: Analysis of UK's green skills challenges and opportunities for achieving net-zero targets.
Category: Policy Analysis
Tags: Green Skills, Education, Training, Employment, Workforce Transition, Net Zero
Summary: Explores workforce transition challenges, particularly addressing the geographic and sectoral mismatch between declining and emerging green employment opportunities, and the necessity for equitable skill distribution to ensure inclusive transition.
From Polluting to Green Jobs: A Seamless Transition in the U.S.?
Author/publisher: IMF
Publication Date: July 2022
Focus: Assesses the labour market reallocation in the U.S. due to the green transition, emphasizing the implications of environmental regulations.
Category: Labour Market Analysis
Tags: Labour Market, Green Jobs, Environmental Regulation, Economic Transition, Wage Premium
Summary: Demonstrates challenges in transitioning from pollution-intensive roles to green jobs, noting wage premiums for green jobs that could incentivize worker transitions. Evaluates historical impacts of environmental regulations like the Clean Air Act.
Making the European Green Deal Work for People
Author/publisher: World Bank
Publication Date: 2024
Focus: Human development strategies to support the successful implementation of the European Green Deal.
Category: Human Development
Tags: European Green Deal, Workforce Development, Human Capital, Policy Implementation, Sustainable Growth
Summary: Advocates for integrating human development approaches into green transition strategies to ensure social equity, resilience, and inclusive growth during Europe's transition to a sustainable economy.
Measuring Green Jobs: A New Database for Latin America
Author/publisher: World Bank
Publication Date: June 2024
Focus: Creating a comprehensive database to measure green jobs and sectors, particularly within Latin American countries.
Category: Data & Measurement
Tags: Green Jobs, Latin America, Labour Markets, Economic Development, Inequality
Summary: Introduces a novel dataset quantifying green occupations, highlighting the correlation between economic development and prevalence of green jobs, and stressing the need for inclusive policies to prevent inequality during green transitions.
Why Look at Tasks When Designing Skills Policy for the Green Transition?
Author/publisher: World Bank
Publication Date: April 2024
Focus: Methodological examination of task-based approaches to identifying green occupations and associated skills.
Category: Methodology
Tags: Skills Policy, Green Transition, Labour Market, Task-Based Approach, Methodology
Summary: Offers a robust methodological framework using text analysis to define green tasks and occupations, highlighting its utility in developing targeted skills policies essential for effective labour market transitions in developing economies.
Labour Markets and the Green Transition
Author/publisher: European Union
Publication Date: 2021
Focus: Guide for practitioners on utilizing task-based approaches to analyse labour market impacts of the green transition.
Category: Practical Guide
Tags: Labour Market, Green Transition, Task-Based Approach, Workforce Development, Policy Implementation
Summary: Discusses the application of task-based methodologies to accurately capture labour market dynamics and skill needs during Europe's transition to a green economy, stressing the importance of standardized data and definitions.
Post-School Education and Skills Reform: Consultation on Legislation
Author/publisher: Scottish Government
Publication Date: January 2025
Focus: Consultation analysis on proposed reforms to streamline funding and governance in Scotland’s post-school education and skills sector.
Category: Education Reform
Tags: Skills Reform, Education Policy, Funding, Governance, Workforce Development
Summary: Reviews stakeholder feedback on legislation aimed at simplifying and consolidating the roles of public bodies, advocating for greater coherence and responsiveness in Scotland’s skills and education system.
Transforming the Construction Industry: 2023 ITB Review
Author/publisher: Mark Farmer, Industry Training Board (ITB)
Publication Date: January 2025
Focus: Comprehensive review of the effectiveness and relevance of the Industry Training Boards within the construction and engineering construction sectors.
Category: Workforce Development
Tags: Workforce Development, Skills Shortages, Apprenticeships, Accountability, Governance, Training Reform
Summary: The 2023 ITB Review by Mark Farmer critically assesses the continuing necessity and impact of Industry Training Boards (ITBs) in addressing persistent market failures in the construction and engineering construction sectors. Despite decades of operation, significant challenges remain in workforce productivity, skill shortages, and industry resilience. The report recommends extensive transformation and realignment of the ITBs' strategic priorities, emphasizing competency, productivity, and resilience. Notably, it proposes stronger governance structures, more rigorous accountability, and a broader, more inclusive system approach to skills training, fostering cooperation across industry and governmental bodies.
2023 ITB Review - Government Response
Author/publisher: Department for Education (DfE)
Publication Date: January 2025
Focus: Official government response to the recommendations made in the 2023 Industry Training Board Review.
Category: Policy Reform
Tags: Workforce Development, Policy Recommendations, Governance, Accountability, Training Reform
Summary: The Department for Education largely accepts the 2023 ITB Review recommendations, recognizing the ongoing necessity of Industry Training Boards (ITBs) but emphasizing the need for their significant transformation. The government commits to fostering a collaborative oversight structure involving multiple administrative bodies, reinforcing financial accountability, and prioritizing strategic changes to align with national skills and economic growth objectives. The response outlines clear steps toward improved efficiency and accountability frameworks designed to enhance ITBs’ performance and impact.
Green Skills Provision Report 2024 – West of England LSIP
Author/publisher: West of England Combined Authority
Publication Date: 2024
Focus: Mapping existing green skills provision and assessing the demand for these skills in the West of England.
Category: Skills Development
Tags: Green Economy, Green Transition, Skills Shortages, Clean Energy Jobs, Workforce Development
Summary: This report assesses the current state and future demand for green skills across sectors in the West of England, highlighting critical gaps in retrofit, heat pump installation, and renewable energy provision. Despite ambitious regional decarbonization targets, current training capacities severely lag behind what is necessary to achieve net zero by 2030. The report underscores the urgency of rapidly scaling educational offerings in green skills, particularly focusing on vocational and practical skills training to accelerate workforce readiness.
SME Skills Horizon 2025
Author/publisher: Specsavers
Publication Date: 2025
Focus: Annual barometer examining recruitment and skills trends among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in England.
Category: Economic Growth
Tags: Recruitment Strategies, Workforce Development, Economic Resilience, Skills-Based Hiring, Training Reform
Summary: The 2025 Skills Horizon Barometer reveals optimistic projections for SMEs, driven by positive economic growth and increased adaptability. Recruitment and retention concerns have decreased year-on-year, reflecting improved workforce stability. However, SMEs identify growing challenges in accessing targeted training and skills development opportunities, especially at entry-level positions. The report highlights opportunities to leverage technical education and digital transformation (AI integration) to meet evolving skills demands.
Addressing Common Myths around Renewable Power
Author/publisher: Clean Energy Canada
Publication Date: October 2024
Focus: Debunking prevalent misconceptions about renewable energy, specifically wind and solar power, with factual, evidence-based analysis.
Category: Clean Energy Technologies
Tags: Renewable Energy, Clean Energy Technologies, Decarbonization, Grid Planning, Energy Transition, Resource Efficiency
Summary: This publication addresses several widespread myths about renewable energy, specifically focusing on wind and solar technologies. It systematically refutes misconceptions about renewables’ reliability, cost-effectiveness, life-cycle emissions, equipment waste, and suitability for the Canadian context. The analysis emphasizes that renewables, complemented by grid-scale storage and interconnections, are already highly cost-competitive and significantly cleaner than fossil fuels over their life cycle. The report underscores Canada's exceptional potential for renewable energy, highlighting the nation's capability to integrate significant renewable energy capacity into its predominantly hydropower-based electricity grid, positioning Canada as a global leader in renewable energy deployment.
Circle Economy Impact Report 2024
Author/publisher: Circle Economy
Publication Date: February 2025
Focus: Reporting on the global impact of Circle Economy's initiatives in accelerating circular economic practices.
Category: Circular Economy
Tags: Circular Economy, Resource Efficiency, Innovation, Metrics for Sustainability, Transition Planning
Summary: Circle Economy’s Impact Report demonstrates substantial global progress toward the circular economy transition, directly supporting numerous cities, businesses, and countries. Despite an increase in circular economy awareness, actual implementation remains challenging, with global circularity metrics stagnating. The report emphasizes the need for decisive leadership and widespread adoption of circular strategies across sectors, highlighting the critical role of data-driven insights, training, and collaborative action in achieving measurable sustainability outcomes.
Choosing Our Future - Education for Climate Action
Author/publisher: The World
Publication Date: August 2024
Focus: How educational systems globally can be leveraged to promote climate action and resilience.
Category: Climate Action
Tags: Climate Action, Education, Resilience, Workforce Development, Skills-Based Hiring
Summary: This World Bank report positions education as a vastly underutilized but critical lever in climate action, emphasizing its capacity to drive behavioral change, resilience, and skill development for a green transition. The document outlines actionable strategies for integrating climate education into foundational learning, enhancing teacher capacity, and fostering adaptable educational systems. It calls for increased climate funding for educational initiatives to maximize their potential for significant environmental and societal impact.
Degree Apprenticeships in England: Stakeholder Experiences
Author/publisher: Edge Foundation
Publication Date: January 2025
Focus: Evaluating the impact, design, and delivery of degree apprenticeships (DAs) in England from multiple stakeholder perspectives.
Category: Vocational Training
Tags: Degree Apprenticeships, Workforce Development, Training Reform, Diversity, Recruitment Strategies
Summary: This comprehensive study explores degree apprenticeships' effectiveness in addressing skill shortages and supporting social mobility. It highlights benefits such as debt-free education and real-world skill application, alongside concerns regarding administrative burdens and limited SME engagement. Stakeholders emphasize the need for greater flexibility, improved collaboration between providers and employers, and enhanced support systems to maximize apprenticeships’ positive outcomes and societal impact.
Clean Industrial Deal - Role of Technical Education
Author/publisher: EuropeOn & GCP Europe
Publication Date: February 2025
Focus: Advocacy for prioritizing technical education to address labor shortages critical for Europe's clean energy transition.
Category: Technical Education
Tags: Workforce Development, Technical Education, Clean Energy Jobs, Skills Shortages, Policy Recommendations
Summary: This joint communication urges the EU to recognize technical education's strategic importance in resolving chronic labor shortages in sectors essential for clean energy deployment. EuropeOn and GCP Europe argue that increasing the attractiveness of technical careers, alongside significant investment in skills training, is fundamental to achieving Europe’s decarbonization and industrial competitiveness goals. The document calls for bold policy measures and systemic changes in how technical education is perceived and supported.
Transition Away from Coal: Vulnerabilities and Opportunities
Author/publisher: The World Bank
Publication Date: April 2023
Focus: Assessing workforce vulnerabilities and community preferences in the coal-dependent municipality of Ruda Śląska, Poland.
Category: Energy Transition
Tags: Just Transition, Economic Resilience, Renewable Energy, Workforce Development, Regional Development
Summary: This World Bank study investigates the socioeconomic impact of transitioning from coal dependency in Ruda Śląska, Poland. With significant workforce reliance on coal-related industries, residents express a strong preference for employment opportunities in renewable energy sectors and environmentally sensitive land redevelopment. The report highlights local resistance to relocation, emphasizing stable and sustainable job creation as critical to a successful and just transition away from coal.
Characterizing Green and Carbon-intensive Employment in India
Author/publisher: World Bank
Publication Date: September 2024
Focus: Examination of employment characteristics and distribution in green and carbon-intensive occupations within India's labor market.
Category: Green Economy
Tags: Green Jobs, Workforce Development, Sustainable Transition, Labor Markets, Economic Impact
Summary: This research uses India’s national definition for green jobs alongside international criteria for carbon-intensive occupations to analyze employment patterns. It highlights the necessity of tracking employment data rigorously to guide India's sustainable transition, noting significant implications for workforce skills development and potential distributive impacts of green policies.
Skills Empower Workers in the AI Revolution
Author/publisher: Cedefop
Publication Date: 2025
Focus: Assessment of AI’s impact on employment, emphasizing evolving skill requirements.
Category: AI and Workforce
Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Skills Development, Labor Market Impact, Workforce Transformation, Digital Transition
Summary: CEDEFOP’s analysis indicates AI, particularly generative AI, is reshaping the labor market, transforming roles rather than solely displacing jobs. While the technology presents disruption risks, effective upskilling and policy actions can enable workers, particularly those with lower education levels, to thrive. AI has the potential to narrow productivity gaps, suggesting its role as an "equalizer" in labor markets.
The New Politics of AI: Why Fast Technological Change Requires Bold Policy Targets
Author/publisher: Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR)
Publication Date: February 2025
Focus: Exploration of policy frameworks required to manage AI’s rapid integration into the economy and society.
Category: AI Governance
Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Public Policy, Technology Governance, Social Impact, Ethical AI
Summary: This IPPR report calls for a paradigm shift in AI policy—advocating for "mission-based" policies that steer AI deployment towards public good rather than mere technological acceleration. The authors stress the importance of proactive policymaking to ensure AI’s societal benefits outweigh potential risks, emphasizing early intervention and direction-setting at a critical juncture in AI’s trajectory.
GPTs are GPTs: Labor Market Impact of Large Language Models (LLMs)
Author/publisher: Science (OpenAI & University of Pennsylvania)
Publication Date: June 2024
Focus: Analysis of labor market exposure to the integration of large language models (LLMs), such as GPT technologies.
Category: AI and Workforce
Tags: Generative AI, Automation, Labor Market Disruption, Workforce Development, Economic Impact
Summary: The study finds extensive implications for the U.S. workforce due to LLMs, with approximately 80% of jobs facing some degree of task impact. Jobs at higher wage levels exhibit higher potential exposure, with significant portions of tasks likely accelerated or altered through LLM-powered software. The analysis suggests these technologies have characteristics of general-purpose technologies with broad economic and social implications.
The Impact of AI on Work and Occupations
Author/publisher: Goldman Sachs
Publication Date: March 2023
Focus: Macro-economic impacts of generative AI, assessing its potential to transform global labor markets.
Category: Economic Impact
Tags: Generative AI, Economic Growth, Labor Automation, Productivity, Workforce Transformation
Summary: Goldman Sachs’ analysis indicates generative AI could significantly disrupt the labor market, potentially automating tasks equivalent to 300 million jobs globally. However, historically such disruptions also lead to new job creation and enhanced productivity, potentially increasing global GDP by 7%. The report outlines generative AI's transformative economic potential, although timing remains uncertain.
A Conceptual Framework for Workforce Skills for Industry 5.0
Author/publisher: Journal of Innovation Management
Publication Date: July 2024
Focus: Proposal of a conceptual framework for identifying essential workforce skills required for Industry 5.0.
Category: Workforce Development
Tags: Industry 5.0, Skills Framework, Workforce Development, Innovation, Future of Work
Summary: The paper introduces a framework highlighting essential skills needed as industries transition toward Industry 5.0, characterized by human-centric, sustainable, and resilient practices. Emphasizing integrated technological and social competencies, the authors call for proactive educational policies and practices to prepare the workforce adequately.
Preparing for the Future of Work: Identification of Future Skills
Author/publisher: Journal of Business Economics
Publication Date: July 2023
Focus: Methodology to systematically identify skills required for future work, combining big data analysis and expert insights.
Category: Skills Development
Tags: Future Skills, Data-driven Analysis, Workforce Planning, Skill Gap Analysis, Education Policy
Summary: This study proposes an innovative, replicable approach for identifying critical future skills through comprehensive job advertisement analysis combined with stakeholder expert validation. Illustrated via a case study of the manufacturing sector in Germany, the method identified key future skills categorized into generic, digital, technological, and industry-specific competencies.
Mapping Career Causeways: User Guide
Author/publisher: Nesta
Publication Date: 2024
Focus: Guidance on supporting career transitions in the face of labor market disruptions such as automation.
Category: Workforce Transition
Tags: Career Transitions, Automation Risks, Skills Matching, Workforce Development, Policy Guidance
Summary: Nesta's guide presents an algorithm-driven approach to facilitate career transitions by identifying skill-compatible job paths, particularly aimed at workers vulnerable to automation. The practical user guide targets career advisors, policymakers, and employers, providing tailored transition strategies to safeguard employment and encourage lifelong learning.
Five Factors Impacting the Public Sector Skills Landscape
Author/publisher: TrainingZone & The Open University
Publication Date: January 2025
Focus: Assessment of key factors influencing skill shortages and workforce challenges in the UK's public sector.
Category: Public Sector
Tags: Public Sector Skills, Workforce Challenges, AI Integration, Regional Disparities, Training and Development
Summary: This report highlights five critical issues shaping public sector skills demands, including technology integration (AI), training deficits, demographic recruitment crises, regional skill disparities, and modern capability gaps. Offering targeted recommendations, it advocates for strategic workforce planning, emphasizing proactive training and capacity-building measures.
Greater Manchester 5 Year Environment Plan (2025-2030)
Author/publisher: Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Publication Date: 2025
Focus: Strategic action plan for achieving environmental sustainability and carbon neutrality in Greater Manchester by 2038.
Category: Sustainability Strategy
Tags: Environmental Action, Carbon Neutrality, Sustainable Infrastructure, Circular Economy, Climate Resilience
Summary: Greater Manchester’s updated Environment Plan targets aggressive sustainability goals, addressing smart energy infrastructure, sustainable transportation, biodiversity enhancement, and circular economic practices. Building on prior achievements, the plan emphasizes community engagement and strategic investments, promoting sustainable economic growth and improved living standards across the city-region.
Powering Local Climate Action: UK100 Annual Review 2024
Author/publisher: UK100
Publication Date: December 2024
Focus: Progress and challenges of local governments in the UK driving climate and clean air targets ahead of national goals.
Category: Local Climate Action
Tags: Local Governance, Clean Energy, Climate Leadership, Community Engagement, Policy Advocacy
Summary: UK100’s annual review highlights substantial growth in local authority climate leadership, with membership now representing over 41 million citizens. Key initiatives include strategic guidance on net-zero delivery, grid connectivity, and home retrofitting. Despite economic challenges and geopolitical instability, the review stresses that local-level solutions remain essential to achieve clean air, warmer homes, and sustainable economic growth.
Green Skills and Circular Economy Workplan 2024-2025
Author/publisher: Hackney Council (SEG Scrutiny Commission)
Publication Date: September 2024
Focus: Strategic development of green skills and circular economy employment within Hackney.
Category: Skills Development
Tags: Green Economy, Circular Economy, Community Engagement, Inclusive Employment, Workforce Training
Summary:
Hackney Council’s workplan focuses on enhancing local employment in the green economy through targeted skills training and strategic partnerships. Emphasis is placed on inclusive employment opportunities, connecting marginalized communities with green-sector jobs, and promoting circular economy practices via dedicated innovation hubs. The plan underscores the importance of equipping current and future workers with sustainable skills, driving a community-wide green transition.
Isle of Man Retrofit and Low-Carbon Skills Analysis
Author/publisher: Gemserv
Publication Date: February 2022
Focus: Assessment of skills gaps and workforce readiness for low-carbon retrofitting on the Isle of Man.
Category: Workforce Development
Tags: Retrofit Skills, Low-Carbon Transition, Workforce Training, Net Zero Targets, Building Efficiency
Summary: This report evaluates the significant skills shortages in the Isle of Man’s construction and retrofit sector. With ambitious targets to retrofit tens of thousands of buildings by 2050, immediate attention is needed for workforce training in insulation and low-carbon heating systems. Recommendations include standardized apprenticeships, clarity in accreditation standards, and public-sector procurement adjustments to stimulate growth and ensure high-quality installations.
Wales Economic and Fiscal Report 2024
Author/publisher: Welsh Government
Publication Date: December 2024
Focus: Overview of economic and fiscal conditions impacting Wales, highlighting productivity, employment, trade, and fiscal sustainability.
Category: Economic Analysis
Tags: Economic Growth, Productivity, Fiscal Policy, Labour Market, Inflation
Summary: The report provides a comprehensive assessment of Wales’s economic and fiscal situation, noting modest economic recovery yet persistent productivity challenges. Inflation pressures ease but remain impactful on households. While employment levels are strong, fiscal challenges remain significant, especially in public services. Recommendations focus on enhancing productivity, investment in skills, and mitigating the fiscal pressures anticipated in the medium term.
Wales Net Zero 2035: Enabling the Transition
Author/publisher: Wales Net Zero 2035 Group
Publication Date: 2024
Focus: Strategic recommendations to enable Wales’s transition to net zero by 2035, emphasizing systemic change and integrated governance.
Category: Climate Action
Tags: Net Zero Transition, Governance Reform, Climate Leadership, Blended Finance, Nature Restoration
Summary: The Wales Net Zero 2035 report calls for urgent systemic reforms including high-level political leadership, cross-government collaboration, and blended financial frameworks to achieve ambitious climate targets. It emphasizes rapid nature restoration, innovative finance solutions, and a collaborative, integrated approach leveraging existing legislation to enable a just and nature-positive transition.
Towards a UK Trade Strategy
Author/publisher: Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR)
Publication Date: January 2025
Focus: Proposed strategic framework for the UK to leverage trade policy for green, inclusive economic growth and resilience amid global trade instability.
Category: Trade Policy
Tags: International Trade, Green Growth, Economic Resilience, Inclusive Economy, Trade Relations
Summary: The IPPR proposes a forward-looking UK trade strategy to foster green and inclusive growth, emphasizing resilience in strategic sectors like energy and pharmaceuticals. With a volatile global environment exacerbated by geopolitical tensions, the strategy advocates for transparency, accountability, and prioritization of sectors where the UK holds comparative advantages, reinforcing trade relations with the EU and targeted international partnerships.
A Competitiveness Compass for the EU
Author/publisher: European Commission
Publication Date: January 2025
Focus: Strategic recommendations to enhance EU competitiveness and innovation, addressing structural weaknesses and productivity challenges.
Category: Economic Competitiveness
Tags: Productivity, Innovation, Economic Policy, Green Transition, Competitiveness
Summary: This EU communication highlights critical productivity gaps and innovation deficits threatening Europe's competitiveness. It outlines strategic directions, emphasizing innovation-driven productivity, regulatory simplification, and the acceleration of the green and digital transitions. The EU aims to re-establish its global economic position by fostering an innovation-friendly environment and targeted industrial policy reforms.
Spotlight on Spinouts 2024
Author/publisher: Beauhurst, Royal Academy of Engineering
Publication Date: April 2024
Focus: Trends, funding dynamics, and policy considerations surrounding UK academic spinout companies.
Category: Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Tags: Academic Spinouts, Innovation Funding, Technology Commercialization, Startups, Economic Growth
Summary: This annual review assesses the state of UK academic spinouts, noting significant investment fluctuations and a cautious approach to equity stakes among universities. Despite a reduction in overall investment levels, sectors like AI and telecommunications show strong potential. Recommendations include enhanced transparency, refined IP policies, and targeted funding support to boost commercial innovation.
Stronger Together: Challenges of Devolved Regional Economic Development
Author/publisher: HEPI (Higher Education Policy Institute), Alistair Lomax
Publication Date: 2024
Focus: Analysis of the role of universities and regional partnerships in devolved economic development strategies within the UK.
Category: Regional Development
Tags: Economic Development, Devolution, University Partnerships, Regional Policy, Innovation Ecosystems
Summary: This report explores the challenges and opportunities associated with devolved regional economic development, emphasizing universities' pivotal roles. It advocates stronger collaboration among universities, pan-regional partnerships, and private sectors to enhance innovation, infrastructure, and sustainable growth. Key recommendations focus on optimizing funding mechanisms and strengthening regional governance frameworks.
Transfer of Funding Powers for New Technical Qualifications: Government Response
Author/publisher: UK Department for Education
Publication Date: January 2025
Focus: Government's decision on transferring funding powers for technical qualifications to local combined authorities.
Category: Education and Training
Tags: Technical Education, Devolution, Skills Development, Funding Reform, Local Governance
Summary: The government confirms its intention to devolve funding powers for new technical qualifications to selected combined authorities. The move aims to enable local decision-making to address regional skills needs effectively, enhancing the alignment of technical training with local economic strategies. Broad stakeholder support emphasizes the anticipated positive impact on regional workforce development.
United Kingdom’s 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)
Author/publisher: UK Government
Publication Date: January 2025
Focus: UK's updated commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 81% from 1990 levels by 2035.
Category: Climate Action
Tags: Net Zero Targets, Climate Policy, Energy Transition, Decarbonization, International Climate Leadership
Summary: The UK’s updated 2035 NDC sets a bold emissions reduction target of 81% below 1990 levels, aligned with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal. Central to achieving this target is an aggressive expansion of renewable energy, comprehensive decarbonization of the electricity grid, and ambitious policies addressing fossil fuel use. The commitment reflects the UK's renewed stance on global climate leadership, with significant international climate finance pledged to assist vulnerable nations and a clear shift away from fossil fuel dependency domestically.
Equity and Just Transition Commitments in South Africa
Author/publisher: SouthSouthNorth (SSN), Net Zero Tracker (NZT)
Publication Date: January 2025
Focus: Assessment of South Africa’s public and private sector climate commitments through an equity and just transition lens.
Category: Just Transition
Tags: Equity, Just Transition, Climate Justice, Fossil Fuel Transition, Regional Disparities
Summary: This report evaluates equity and justice within South Africa’s climate commitments, highlighting significant regional disparities and sectoral variations. Urban centers like Johannesburg and Cape Town lead robust climate strategies, while less affluent regions lag considerably. Recommendations include enhancing national-local governmental coordination, providing targeted financial support, and incentivizing private sector accountability to ensure an equitable transition away from fossil fuels and toward sustainable economic growth.
2025 Global 100: World's Most Sustainable Companies
Author/publisher: Corporate Knights
Publication Date: January 22, 2025
Focus: Ranking of the world's most sustainable companies, analyzing ESG performance and sustainable economy contributions.
Category: Sustainable Business
Tags: Corporate Sustainability, ESG, Green Investment, Sustainable Revenue, Global Rankings, Climate Commitments, Business Leadership
Summary: The 2025 Global 100 report ranks the world's top companies excelling in sustainability, highlighting Schneider Electric SE at the top for its robust performance across carbon productivity, sustainable investments, and gender-diverse governance. Despite shifting global political and economic landscapes, sustainable investments among these leading companies continued to rise, accounting for 58% of total investments compared to just 15% among other large firms. Sustainable revenues from these global leaders grew at double the rate of traditional revenues, reflecting a clear, ongoing private-sector commitment to a green transition despite recent market turbulence. The report underscores the strategic value businesses now see in sustainability, with companies increasingly aligning their capital expenditure and operational strategies with global climate ambitions and ESG metrics. New entrants to the ranking include firms excelling in EV technologies and recycled materials, demonstrating expanding corporate interest in innovative sustainable sectors. Notably, the report identifies ongoing challenges such as limited racial diversity and executive gender parity, suggesting room for further progress even among sustainability leaders.
We Mean Business Coalition Annual Report 2023
Author/publisher: We Mean Business Coalition
Publication Date: 2023
Focus: Mobilizing business leadership to accelerate global climate action and fossil fuel phase-out.
Category: Business Leadership
Tags: Climate Advocacy, Clean Energy Transition, Corporate Sustainability, Fossil Fuel Phase-Out, Policy Engagement
Summary:
The coalition emphasized business advocacy at COP28, significantly influencing historic agreements on fossil fuel phase-outs and clean energy acceleration. Over 16,000 businesses joined initiatives promoting ambitious climate action. This report underscores the strategic importance of corporate leadership in global climate governance, reinforcing that decisive business advocacy is essential to drive policy and systemic change towards achieving net zero by 2050.
Electrifying Industry and Distribution Networks: Considerations for Policymakers
Author/publisher: Aldersgate Group
Publication Date: February 2025
Focus: Challenges and solutions for electrifying UK industry to achieve net-zero targets.
Category: Industrial Decarbonization
Tags: Electrification, Industrial Decarbonization, Infrastructure Investment, Grid Constraints, Net Zero Targets
Summary: The report reveals that electrifying UK industry could deliver substantial emissions reductions but warns that significant network constraints will emerge by 2030 without increased infrastructure investment. Policymakers must urgently facilitate anticipatory grid upgrades, enabling industrial sites to meet growing electrification demands and ensuring decarbonization progresses without infrastructural bottlenecks.
Advancing Clean Energy Demonstration Projects
Author/publisher: International Energy Agency (IEA)
Publication Date: 2024
Focus: Analysis of global progress and challenges in advancing clean energy technology demonstrations.
Category: Clean Energy Innovation
Tags: Innovation, Clean Energy Demonstrations, Funding, Technology Readiness, Emission-intensive Industries
Summary: This IEA report emphasizes the critical need for increased investment in clean energy demonstration projects to achieve net-zero targets. Current global funding levels remain insufficient, especially in sectors like heavy industry and transportation. It calls for stronger government-industry collaboration, targeted financial instruments, and strategic international cooperation to bridge innovation gaps and accelerate clean energy deployment.
UK Energy Transition Outlook 2025
Author/publisher: DNV
Publication Date: January 2025
Focus: Projected pathways and challenges for the UK's energy transition through 2050.
Category: Energy Transition
Tags: Energy Transition, Renewables Expansion, Net Zero, Electrification, Hydrogen Economy
Summary:
DNV forecasts significant but insufficient progress towards UK's 2030, 2035, and 2050 energy transition targets. While renewable capacity will substantially increase, significant reliance on fossil fuels persists, notably in heating and transport sectors. Immediate strategic investments and coherent policies in grid infrastructure, CCS, and hydrogen development are essential to ensure the UK stays on a credible path to net zero by 2050.
Global Cleantech 100: Energy & Power Report 2025
Author/publisher: Cleantech Group
Publication Date: January 2025
Focus: Highlights emerging global leaders in clean energy and power technology sectors.
Category: Innovation and Technology
Tags: Cleantech, Energy Storage, Hydrogen, Grid Resilience, Industrial Decarbonization
Summary: The report identifies the top 100 innovative companies poised to scale solutions in industrial decarbonization, battery storage, hydrogen technologies, and grid management. Spotlighted innovations include battery analytics, thermal energy storage, ammonia cracking, and advanced hydrogen electrolysis, showcasing diverse technological approaches essential for the energy transition.
Total Cost of Ownership of Heat Pumps: The Case of Great Britain
Author/publisher: Rosenow et al., iScience
Publication Date: January 2025
Focus: Economic viability of heat pumps in Great Britain, considering policy impacts on ownership costs.
Category: Energy Efficiency
Tags: Heat Pumps, Economic Analysis, Decarbonization, Policy Incentives, Electrification
Summary:
The study demonstrates that heat pumps achieve cost parity with gas boilers under current efficiencies but highlights that further incentives such as shifting energy levies to general taxation or gas could greatly enhance adoption. With optimized tariffs and higher efficiencies, heat pumps could become significantly more economically attractive, essential for reaching national decarbonization targets.
Decarbonizing Heat: The Impact of Heat Pumps and a Time-of-Use Tariff (USA)
Author/publisher: National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)
Publication Date: October 2024
Focus: Analysis of the impact of heat pumps and optimized tariff structures on household energy demand in the US.
Category: Decarbonization
Tags: Heat Pumps, Electrification, Demand Management, Energy Efficiency, Time-of-Use Tariffs
Summary: This comprehensive US study finds heat pumps dramatically reduce home gas use (90%) and overall energy demand (40%), significantly cutting emissions. Furthermore, specialized tariffs (time-of-use) enhance demand flexibility, dramatically reducing peak energy use. Results suggest government subsidies for heat pumps are not only effective in decarbonizing heat but also economically beneficial.
Evaluation of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme: Interim Report (2024)
Publisher: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)
Date: July 2024
Focus: Evaluation of effectiveness and barriers in the UK's Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS).
Category: Energy Efficiency
Tags: Heat Pumps, Low-Carbon Heating, Renewable Energy Incentives
Summary: This interim evaluation of the UK's Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) reports moderate success in accelerating the adoption of low-carbon heating systems. Uptake has been driven primarily by homeowner interest in reducing carbon emissions and improving energy efficiency. However, logistical and financial challenges still limit wider participation. Recommendations emphasize streamlining administrative processes, enhancing financial incentives, and improving installer networks to boost participation and effectiveness.
Blue Hydrogen: A False Hope for Steel Decarbonisation
Publisher: IEEFA
Date: January 2025
Focus: Evaluating the feasibility and risks of using blue hydrogen for steel industry decarbonisation.
Category: Industrial Decarbonisation
Tags: Blue Hydrogen, Green Hydrogen, Steel Industry, Carbon Capture
Summary: This critical briefing casts doubt on the viability of blue hydrogen—produced from fossil fuels with partial carbon capture—as a pathway to decarbonize the steel industry. Significant barriers include unreliable carbon capture technology, methane leakage, and the lack of genuine emissions reductions. The report urges policymakers and industry leaders to shift investments towards genuinely sustainable green hydrogen and electrification to avoid missing crucial market transitions to low-emissions steel.
Nuclear Power in the Midlands: Economic Growth Opportunity
Publisher: Midlands Engine
Date: February 2025
Focus: Opportunities for economic growth through nuclear innovation in the Midlands.
Category: Nuclear Energy
Tags: Nuclear Innovation, Small Modular Reactors, Economic Development
Summary: The Midlands region emerges as a pivotal hub for nuclear technology innovation, with significant growth potential driven by Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), fusion technology, and advanced modular reactors (AMRs). The report outlines strategic investment opportunities in nuclear infrastructure and skills training, presenting the sector as vital for local economic revitalization and national energy security. Strategic recommendations focus on governmental support, public perception improvement, and export market development.
National Policy Statement for Nuclear Energy (EN-7)
Publisher: UK Government (DESNZ)
Date: February 2025
Focus: Government consultation on the expansion of nuclear energy infrastructure, including small modular reactors (SMRs).
Category: Energy Policy
Tags: Nuclear Policy, Energy Security, Small Modular Reactors, Infrastructure Development
Summary: This consultation on the revised National Policy Statement (EN-7) sets out a bold expansion of nuclear energy generation beyond previously identified sites, accommodating advanced nuclear technologies like SMRs and AMRs. The policy underscores nuclear’s role in achieving net-zero targets, bolstering energy security, and creating high-quality employment, framing nuclear as an essential pillar of a clean, secure, and prosperous energy future for the UK.
Nuclear Hydrogen Cogeneration Feasibility Study
Publisher: Frazer-Nash Consultancy, Nuclear AMRC
Date: October 2022
Focus: Technical and economic feasibility of nuclear-based hydrogen production and cogeneration.
Category: Clean Energy Innovation
Tags: Nuclear Cogeneration, Hydrogen Economy, Energy Transition
Summary: This feasibility study investigates the potential for coupling nuclear power with hydrogen production, identifying significant technical synergies and economic benefits. Highlighting cost competitiveness and substantial carbon savings, the report advocates for the accelerated development of nuclear-hydrogen cogeneration as a key component of the UK's hydrogen economy strategy, vital for achieving national net-zero targets by 2050.
Sunny Day Savings: Government Support for Solar Panels
Publisher: Resolution Foundation
Date: February 2025
Focus: Economic impacts and equity considerations of government incentives for residential solar panels.
Category: Renewable Energy
Tags: Solar Panels, Energy Savings, Energy Policy, Social Equity
Summary: The analysis reveals that domestic solar panels significantly reduce household energy costs and emissions but are predominantly adopted by wealthier households, exacerbating energy inequality. It argues for targeted government incentives to expand solar panel uptake among lower-income households, stressing the economic and social equity benefits of a broader "rooftop revolution" across the UK.
SolarPower Europe Operation & Maintenance Best Practice Guidelines
Publisher: SolarPower Europe
Date: February 2025
Focus: Operational best practices and innovations for maintenance in the solar power industry.
Category: Renewable Energy Management
Tags: Solar Power Maintenance, Best Practices, Asset Management, Renewable Infrastructure
Summary: The updated guidelines detail comprehensive standards for the operation and maintenance of solar PV installations, emphasizing technological innovation, lifecycle quality management, predictive maintenance, and cybersecurity. These practices are crucial for maximizing efficiency, durability, and profitability in Europe's rapidly expanding solar industry.
Climate Resilience: Horizon Scanning for Future UK Crops
Publisher: UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Tyndall Centre
Date: January 2025
Focus: Identifying resilient crop options for UK agriculture under future climate scenarios.
Category: Agricultural Adaptation
Tags: Climate Resilience, Agricultural Innovation, Crop Diversification, Sustainability
Summary: This horizon-scanning report identifies new crop opportunities under future UK climate scenarios, highlighting soy, chickpeas, and grapes as promising alternatives. It warns, however, that significant investments and adaptations in farming practices, supply chains, and policy frameworks are necessary to capitalize on these opportunities and mitigate climate-related risks to traditional agriculture.
UK Government Land Use Consultation
Publisher: DEFRA
Date: January 2025
Focus: Proposed reforms in land-use policy to balance agricultural productivity, sustainability, and infrastructure.
Category: Sustainable Land Management
Tags: Land Use Policy, Sustainable Agriculture, Environmental Protection, Policy Consultation
Summary: This consultation document outlines a vision for more integrated, dynamic land use to balance agricultural productivity, environmental conservation, infrastructure development, and community needs. It seeks input on improving incentives, coordination, and data availability to enable more effective and sustainable land management practices across England.
Carbon Farming’s Contribution to CAP Climate Objectives
Publisher: European Commission
Date: June 2024
Focus: Assessing carbon farming's contribution to EU agricultural climate targets.
Category: Climate-Smart Agriculture
Tags: Carbon Farming, Climate Policy, EU Agriculture, Sustainable Farming
Summary: The workshop report evaluates carbon farming practices in European agriculture, emphasizing their potential to significantly contribute to EU climate targets. Key challenges include accurately measuring carbon sequestration and aligning agricultural incentives with carbon farming practices. It recommends standardized methodologies and stronger policy support for farmers to fully realize carbon farming’s climate mitigation benefits.
Digitalization: The Pathway to Net Zero
Publisher: Carbon Re
Date: April 2024
Focus: Role of digital technologies, specifically AI, in achieving industrial net-zero targets.
Category: Decarbonisation, Digital Innovation
Tags: AI, Industrial Efficiency, Cement Industry, Process Optimization, Net Zero
Summary: Carbon Re emphasizes digitalization as critical for industrial decarbonization, particularly in cement production. Their AI-driven software, Delta Zero, offers plant operators data-driven optimization, significantly reducing energy usage (up to 10%) and fuel-related carbon emissions (up to 20%), all without the need for significant capital investment or plant shutdowns. It also helps operators maintain equipment efficiently and stay within emissions regulations, marking digitalization as a transformative driver toward achieving net zero.
France's Repairability Index for Electronics Products
Publisher: One Planet Network
Date: February 2023
Focus: Evaluation of France’s Repairability Index and its impact on consumer electronics and e-waste.
Category: Circular Economy
Tags: Repairability, Product Lifecycle, E-Waste, Consumer Awareness
Summary: France’s Repairability Index requires manufacturers to inform consumers of electronic products' repairability, scored from 0 to 10. This policy aims to combat e-waste by making repairability a transparent purchasing factor, with ambitions to increase the proportion of repaired electronics from 40% to 60% by 2026. The index faces some criticism for the ease with which manufacturers can improve their scores, highlighting ongoing challenges in true accountability.
Repair, Reuse, Reform: Re-use and Repair Manifesto
Publisher: SUEZ
Date: January 2025
Focus: Strategies to accelerate circular economy through enhanced repair and reuse infrastructure.
Category: Circular Economy, Waste Reduction
Tags: Reuse, Repair Economy, Sustainability, Resource Efficiency
Summary: SUEZ advocates for accelerating the circular economy by significantly expanding repair and reuse activities. Their manifesto outlines seven critical steps—including reducing VAT on repaired goods, expanding the Right to Repair, and establishing a £250 million Re-use Development Loan Fund—to stimulate growth in repair sectors. The proposed interventions aim to unlock considerable environmental, economic, and societal benefits through improved reuse infrastructure and supportive policies.
Powering the Future: Battery Supply Chains and Circularity
Publisher: World Economic Forum (WEF), RMI, Global Battery Alliance
Date: January 2025
Focus: Circular economy solutions to enhance battery supply chains, reduce critical mineral dependencies, and address recycling challenges.
Category: Circular Economy, Supply Chain
Tags: Electric Vehicles, Battery Recycling, Circular Economy, Critical Minerals
Summary: This WEF report argues that transitioning to a circular battery economy is essential to address the rising demand for electric vehicle batteries, reduce dependency on virgin minerals, and mitigate geopolitical and environmental risks. Key recommendations include developing standardized track-and-trace systems, innovative battery designs prioritizing recyclability, policy interventions supporting battery recycling markets, and regionalizing supply chains to enhance resilience and sustainability.
The Rise of Community Repair
Publisher: Open Repair Alliance
Date: October 2024
Focus: Growth and societal impacts of community-led repair initiatives.
Category: Circular Economy
Tags: Community Repair, Right to Repair, Data-Driven Advocacy
Summary: This report highlights the growing global community repair movement, with Repair Cafés facilitating around 190,000 successful repairs annually. Despite a high community repair success rate (53%), significant barriers such as lack of spare parts and poor product design remain. The data underscores the need for ambitious Right to Repair legislation and enhanced product standards, demonstrating community-led repair as pivotal for a robust circular economy.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Impact Assessment
Publisher: DEFRA
Date: January 2021
Focus: Impact analysis of extended producer responsibility schemes on packaging waste.
Category: Policy, Packaging Waste
Tags: EPR, Packaging Recycling, Waste Management, Environmental Policy
Summary: This DEFRA assessment evaluates proposed reforms to the UK’s packaging producer responsibility system. By requiring producers to cover the full net costs of managing packaging waste, the reforms aim to incentivize sustainable packaging design, improve recycling rates, and significantly reduce environmental impacts. The preferred reform option would result in major cost transfers from local authorities to producers, improved recycling performance, and substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
Historic Environment Staff Resources in Local Authorities
Publisher: Historic England
Date: 2023
Focus: Assessment of staffing and skill gaps within local authorities for managing historic environment retrofits.
Category: Retrofit and Conservation
Tags: Retrofit Decision Making, Heritage Conservation, Energy Efficiency
Summary: The 2023 staffing survey highlights an increased focus on retrofit projects among local authorities' historic environment teams, yet reveals widespread gaps in skills and confidence for making retrofit decisions. The findings stress the urgent need for targeted training, better guidance, and increased resources to manage the growing retrofit workload effectively.
Creating Good Local Retrofit Jobs
Publisher: Ashden, MCS Foundation
Date: January 2025
Focus: Strategies for local job creation and skill development through retrofit initiatives.
Category: Retrofit Economy, Skills Development
Tags: Retrofit Jobs, Skills Training, Local Employment, Works and Training Organisations (WATO)
Summary: Ashden’s report identifies the critical need for at least 200,000 additional skilled workers to meet UK retrofit targets. It advocates establishing local Works and Training Organisations (WATOs) to combine retrofit projects with on-the-job training, improving job quality and workforce diversity. Strategic long-term government funding and policy changes are recommended to establish sustainable retrofit training ecosystems.
Ecofurb Home Retrofit Trends Index 2025
Publisher: Ecofurb
Date: January 2025
Focus: Consumer attitudes and market trends influencing uptake of home retrofit solutions.
Category: Consumer Trends, Retrofit Market
Tags: Home Retrofit, Consumer Attitudes, Energy Efficiency, Market Barriers
Summary: Ecofurb’s analysis reveals a significant gap between homeowner awareness of retrofit benefits and actual investments, exacerbated by financial barriers. Although 62% recognize retrofit’s financial benefits, aesthetic home improvements remain a higher priority. Policy measures and financial incentives are crucial for bridging this gap and encouraging widespread energy-efficiency upgrades.
Retrofitting Hard-to-Treat Social Housing
Publisher: Midlands Net Zero Hub
Date: January 2025
Focus: Addressing technical, financial, and social barriers in retrofitting complex social housing stock.
Category: Retrofit Strategy, Housing
Tags: Social Housing, Energy Efficiency, Retrofitting, Decarbonisation
Summary: This report tackles the challenges in retrofitting hard-to-treat social housing in the Midlands, identifying technical, financial, and tenant-related barriers. Recommended strategies include fabric-first retrofits, innovative technologies, robust tenant engagement, and improved contractor compliance with PAS 2035 standards. The report highlights the need for greater knowledge-sharing, comprehensive case studies, and enhanced tenant buy-in for successful retrofitting programs.
Net Zero and the UK Historic Building Stock
Publisher: POST (Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology)
Date: February 2025
Focus: Challenges and opportunities in retrofitting the UK's historic buildings towards net zero.
Category: Retrofit, Built Environment
Tags: Historic Buildings, Retrofit, Net Zero, Embodied Carbon, Energy Efficiency
Summary: Achieving net zero for the UK's historic buildings, the oldest stock in Europe, requires a nuanced retrofit approach addressing both operational emissions (heating, lighting) and embodied emissions (construction materials). Nearly half of the UK’s housing stock needs retrofitting by 2050. Challenges identified include financial barriers and gaps in homeowner engagement. Recommendations highlight area-based retrofit strategies and improved national retrofit databases to support targeted, large-scale actions.
Building Greener Cities: Green Job Opportunities in Clean Construction (London)
Publisher: C40 Cities, Buro Happold, New Economics Foundation
Date: January 2025
Focus: Identifying green job opportunities from adopting clean construction practices in London.
Category: Green Jobs, Construction
Tags: Clean Construction, Green Jobs, Urban Development, Decarbonisation, London
Summary: This report advocates shifting London’s construction sector towards cleaner methods to tackle climate change and resource depletion. It identifies eight strategic shifts—including retrofitting, modular construction, and bio-based materials—promising substantial green job creation, enhanced resource efficiency, and reduced emissions. The clean construction transition could substantially enhance urban resilience and socio-economic equity in the city.
A Blueprint for Warmer Homes: How to Deliver a Retrofit Revolution
Publisher: New Economics Foundation (NEF)
Date: January 2025
Focus: Strategies for national-scale housing retrofit to address energy efficiency and fuel poverty.
Category: Housing Retrofit, Energy Efficiency
Tags: Home Retrofit, Fuel Poverty, Economic Growth, Local Delivery
Summary: NEF proposes a national retrofit programme targeting fuel poverty and energy efficiency through sustained public investment (£13.2bn allocated over five years). The plan highlights area-based funding models managed by empowered local authorities to maximise economic benefits, create thousands of green jobs, and significantly reduce fuel poverty. Proposed measures include establishing a national coordination unit, zero-interest loans, and leveraging £37bn in capital expenditure, driving broader economic returns and deeper community engagement.
Achieving Zero-Carbon Buildings: Electric, Efficient and Flexible
Publisher: Energy Transitions Commission (ETC)
Date: February 2025
Focus: Strategic roadmap for achieving zero-carbon buildings through electrification, efficiency, and flexibility.
Category: Buildings Decarbonisation, Energy Transition
Tags: Zero-Carbon Buildings, Electrification, Flexibility, Energy Efficiency
Summary: ETC's report underscores electrification, efficiency, and flexibility as vital to achieving zero-carbon buildings globally by mid-century. Key recommendations involve decarbonising operational energy, minimising embodied carbon in new buildings, and significantly expanding renewable energy capacity. The collective insights of industry leaders reinforce that a sustainable transition is not only feasible but essential for economic growth alongside climate resilience.
Retrofitting Housing: Translating Net-Zero Commitments into Actions
Publisher: University of Manchester
Date: December 2022
Focus: Identifying barriers to retrofit and strategies to accelerate adoption in UK housing.
Category: Retrofit Strategy
Tags: Housing Retrofit, Decarbonisation, Manchester, Energy Transition
Summary: This study evaluates retrofit challenges in achieving net zero within the UK, using Manchester as a case study. It identifies critical financial, policy, and behavioural barriers to large-scale retrofitting, suggesting that market-based interventions and better alignment between incentives and homeowner motivations could significantly increase retrofit uptake. The analysis highlights the need for integrated policy frameworks informed by detailed local contexts.
Close to Home: Building Safer Housing in a Changing Climate (Canada)
Publisher: Canadian Climate Institute
Date: February 2025
Focus: Climate-related risks and policy responses for Canadian housing development.
Category: Climate Resilience, Housing
Tags: Climate Adaptation, Flood Risk, Wildfires, Housing Policy
Summary: The report warns that Canada’s ambitious housing expansion risks placing thousands of new homes in areas vulnerable to climate hazards. Strategic shifts in land use policies, improved hazard disclosure, and stronger local governance could prevent billions in future damages from flooding and wildfires. Redirecting construction away from high-risk zones could achieve housing targets sustainably without compromising affordability or safety.
Just in Case: Narrowing the UK Civil Food Resilience Gap
Publisher: National Preparedness Commission
Date: February 2025
Focus: Strengthening UK food resilience through policy shifts from just-in-time to just-in-case supply chains.
Category: Food Security
Tags: Food Resilience, Crisis Preparedness, Food Policy
Summary: This comprehensive study highlights vulnerabilities in the UK's food system, recommending a significant shift from 'Just-in-Time' to 'Just-in-Case' resilience strategies. It urges stronger local preparedness structures, community engagement, strategic stockpiling, and international cooperation to address potential disruptions caused by climate impacts, geopolitical tensions, or infrastructure failures, ultimately strengthening national food security and public confidence.
BBC Net Zero Transition Plan 2024
Publisher: BBC
Date: 2024
Focus: BBC’s strategic actions and commitments toward achieving corporate net-zero emissions.
Category: Corporate Sustainability
Tags: Net Zero, Corporate Transition, Sustainability Strategy
Summary: BBC's transition plan details ambitious targets for decarbonising operations, aiming for substantial emission cuts by 2030 and achieving full net zero by 2050. Strategic actions include embedding sustainability in programming, supply chain emissions management, and collaborating broadly with industry partners. Emphasizing transparency and accountability, the BBC seeks to lead as the most sustainable creative organisation globally.
Green Space Skills Hub: Sector Perception Report
Publisher: Groundwork London
Date: 2024
Focus: Analysis of perceptions, skill gaps, and recruitment challenges in green space sector.
Category: Green Jobs, Skills Development
Tags: Green Spaces, Skills Gap, Workforce Development
Summary: This report identifies widespread misconceptions and skill shortages in the UK's green space sector. Recommendations include targeted outreach to diverse communities, clearer educational pathways, and coordinated efforts to elevate sector visibility and respect. Initiatives like "Force of Nature" aim to attract underrepresented groups, highlighting green space careers as rewarding, skilled, and essential for urban sustainability and climate action.
Change You Can Board: Delivering Better, Greener Buses
Publisher: IPPR North
Date: January 2025
Focus: Policy recommendations for improving UK bus networks, sustainability, and public engagement.
Category: Sustainable Transport
Tags: Public Transport, Bus Networks, Decarbonisation, Policy Reform
Summary: IPPR North highlights England’s opportunity to reform bus services through a new Bus Services Bill, advocating bus franchising, public ownership options, and enhanced local governance to boost regional connectivity and achieve transport decarbonisation. Recommendations focus on ensuring buses are affordable, sustainable, and integrated, significantly reducing emissions while improving economic and social outcomes.
Future Fuels Blueprint: Maritime Decarbonisation
Publisher: Connected Places Catapult
Date: December 2024
Focus: Blueprint for maritime sector transition to alternative fuels and infrastructure development.
Category: Maritime Innovation, Clean Fuels
Tags: Maritime, Alternative Fuels, Decarbonisation, Infrastructure, Innovation
Summary: The Maritime Innovation Flagship's Future Fuels Blueprint outlines a strategic pathway to decarbonise UK maritime operations. Highlighting alternative fuels such as ammonia, hydrogen, and biofuels, the report details essential infrastructure changes and technology developments required to transition the industry toward net-zero. It emphasizes collaborative industry actions, enabling studies, technological readiness, and proactive policy support to ensure successful implementation of maritime decarbonisation by 2050.
Liverpool-Belfast Green Shipping Corridor
Publisher: UK Department for Transport, Innovate UK
Date: September 2024
Focus: Feasibility and implementation strategy for creating a green shipping corridor between Liverpool and Belfast.
Category: Maritime Decarbonisation
Tags: Green Shipping, Zero Emissions, Infrastructure, Hydrogen, Electrification
Summary: This report explores pathways to establishing a green shipping corridor between Liverpool and Belfast, emphasizing decarbonisation of ports and shipping fleets through electrification, hydrogen fuel, and renewable energy integration. It underscores significant infrastructure requirements, regulatory shifts, and ecosystem developments needed, including digital tools, skills training, and stakeholder collaboration. Pilot projects and investments in clean energy technologies such as offshore wind, tidal power, and advanced propulsion systems are outlined to reduce maritime emissions dramatically.
DESTINATION 2050: Roadmap to Net-Zero European Aviation
Publisher: ACI Europe, DESTINATION 2050
Date: February 2025
Focus: Updated roadmap for achieving net-zero aviation emissions in Europe by 2050.
Category: Aviation Decarbonisation
Tags: Aviation, SAF, Hydrogen, Air Traffic Management, Net Zero
Summary: DESTINATION 2050 presents an updated roadmap for achieving net-zero aviation emissions in Europe by 2050. It highlights major progress in Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), aircraft and engine technology, and improved Air Traffic Management (ATM). The report stresses immediate policy actions, industrial collaboration, and substantial investment required (€2.4 trillion) for transitioning aviation infrastructure and technology. Key recommendations include establishing a European Aviation Industrial Strategy and significantly scaling SAF production to maintain European leadership in aviation decarbonisation.
Local Airport Activity and Climate Change
Publisher: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Date: 2025
Focus: Communication strategies for local airports addressing climate change impacts.
Category: Aviation, Climate Communication
Tags: Airports, Climate Impact, Stakeholder Engagement, Sustainability
Summary: This comprehensive report guides local airports in effectively communicating their climate impacts and sustainability measures to stakeholders. It identifies strategies to balance airport economic activities with climate responsibilities, advocating transparent communication of emissions profiles, mitigation actions, and sustainability improvements to foster public trust and facilitate local climate initiatives.
Innovation Gaps and Barriers to Zero-Emission Airports
Publisher: UK Government, Zero-Emission Airports Project
Date: April 2024
Focus: Identification of innovation barriers in transitioning airports towards zero-emission operations.
Category: Aviation Infrastructure
Tags: Airport Electrification, Hydrogen, Zero-Emission Flight, Innovation Barriers
Summary: Identifying critical innovation barriers, this report pinpoints gaps in data sharing, energy management, infrastructure planning, and emissions reporting as key roadblocks to zero-emission airports. It emphasizes establishing clarity on hydrogen adoption, consistency in emissions reporting, and targeted research to unlock infrastructural and operational advancements, ensuring successful decarbonisation of airports by 2040.
Zero Emissions Airports: Transition Plan 2040
Publisher: UK Department for Transport, Connected Places Catapult
Date: July 2024
Focus: Strategic planning framework for transitioning airports to hydrogen-based zero-emission operations.
Category: Aviation Transition
Tags: Hydrogen Infrastructure, Aviation Decarbonisation, Master Planning, Zero-Emission Flight
Summary: This detailed draft transition plan outlines step-by-step methodologies and case studies for integrating hydrogen-powered flight infrastructure at airports. It emphasizes forecasting hydrogen demand, infrastructure development pathways, master planning, and operational safety considerations. The guidance supports airport-level planning and investment, addressing uncertainties in future aviation fuel demands and infrastructure readiness.
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations at Airport Passenger Parking Facilities
Publisher: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Date: 2025
Focus: Best practices and infrastructure requirements for EV charging in airport passenger parking facilities.
Category: Sustainable Mobility
Tags: EV Charging, Airport Infrastructure, Passenger Facilities, Electric Mobility
Summary: This synthesis explores best practices for deploying electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in airport passenger parking facilities. It evaluates infrastructure needs, user preferences, and operational strategies to effectively support growing EV adoption among airport passengers, promoting broader transportation sustainability initiatives.
Towards Sustainable Mobility: Transformative Scenarios for 2034
Publisher: Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Date: December 2022
Focus: Scenario planning for sustainable urban mobility developments by 2034.
Category: Urban Mobility
Tags: Sustainable Transport, Mobility Scenarios, Walking and Cycling, Public Transport
Summary: This study presents five transformative scenarios for urban mobility by 2034, emphasizing walking, cycling, and integrated public transportation. The scenarios offer insights into potential societal shifts, infrastructure developments, and behavioural changes necessary to achieve sustainable mobility goals, providing a practical tool for urban transport policy and planning.