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date: 15 July 2009

embargo: For immediate release

TUC welcomes Government plans to shift the UK to a low carbon economy

Commenting on the Government's Low Carbon Industrial Strategy published today (Wednesday), TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

'Irreversible damage has already been done to the UK climate so today's announcement setting out how the Government intends to shift the UK economy over to a local carbon one will go a long way towards limiting the impact of any harmful emissions in future.

'By leading the way and not simply leaving the shape of the UK's greener future to the whims of the market, ministers have shown how they intend to help firms and the UK workforce move into the new low carbon era. The establishment of a just transition forum involving ministers, unions and employers will be crucial in ensuring that no community in the UK suffers as a result.

'If UK companies are to compete successfully with the best of the rest of the world, there is no alternative other than for them to become the best in the new low carbon technologies and they will need a highly skilled workforce to do so.

'With Government help to re-train, many of the thousands of workers who have recently lost their jobs in traditional manufacturing will be able to take up new highly skilled posts in the new, greener firms, and become part of the transition to a new style, low carbon economy.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

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Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Elly Brenchley T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: ebrenchley@tuc.org.uk

Press release (400 words) issued 15 Jul 2009