Net zero is the industrial opportunity of the 21st century, the CBI says, and its report found that the green economy was widely distributed around the UK. Photo Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images
Environment United KingdomNet-Zero Jobs Pay More, and They’re Growing Fast
The United Kingdom has seen its net-zero sector grow three times faster than the overall national economy, cutting emissions, strengthening energy security, and creating high-paying jobs. This proves that economic growth and climate action go hand in hand.
“It is clear, you can’t have growth without green – 2025 is the year when the rubber hits the road, where inaction is indisputably costlier than action,” says Louise Hellem, chief economist at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). “We are approaching critical points of no return for energy security and emissions reduction. It’s fantastic to see the growing strength of the net zero economy in the UK and we need to continue to see that ambition.”
The CBI analysis found that the net-zero economy grew by 10% in 2024, generating $107 billion in gross value added and improving lives and livelihoods. Furthermore, 22,000 net-zero businesses – from renewable energy to green finance – employed almost a million full-time employees with an average annual wage of $56,000, an impressive $7,240 higher than the national average. The report concludes that “the net-zero economy is not only driving environmental progress but also delivering transformative economic and social benefits across the UK.”
