Prof. Fitzgerald Conducts Green Economy Workshop in London

On May 13, 2025, Prof. Joan Fitzgerald participated in a panel discussion, held on Northeastern’s London campus, on local government and the green economy. The talk, conducted as part of a Sustainability Event Series, also featured members of the Greater London Authority (GLA) and Lewisham Council. 

The panel began with a presentation by Prof. Fitzgerald, who was joined remotely by her collaborator Stuart Anderson. They hoped to develop their research by comparing Boston’s and London’s respective transitions to the green economy, with a particular focus on jobs. They wanted to know: (1) What makes for a ‘green’ job? (2) What is the demand for these jobs? (3) What opportunities exist within these jobs for career development and progression? Stuart Anderson discussed four priority areas: decarbonising the building stock, electrifying transport, coastal resilience, and the net zero grid. They found that: 

–There were roughly 45 unique occupations within Boston’s green economy, with an estimated 200, 000 workers in GND occupations. 

–As in the UK, the green economy is an area of growth. In Boston, it grew by approximately 22% between 2015 and 2023. 

–Future growth (through 2033) is estimated at 17%, against an overall labour force growth of 2.8%. 

·–Arguably the greatest impact exists within the so-called ‘old economy’: electricians, HVAV technicians, and construction labourers. 

Prof. Fitzgerald, in the second part of the paper, discussed training opportunities for low-income communities. She discussed barriers to participation, the role of higher education, and the relatively low chances of progression within those careers. Do these challenges also exist in London?

Jeff O’Riley (GLA) reported on the GLA’s findings for London. He agreed that it is difficult to define a green job, especially because skills and job titles are often imperfectly aligned. For example, electricians or construction workers may end up working on green projects that are not necessarily advertised as such. Nevertheless, as in Boston, London’s green sector continues to increase its share of the total job market. For example, economists requiring green skills increased from 8% in 2019 to roughly 20% today. Finally, GLA’s priority skills area broadly convergent with Boston’s, with an emphasis on retrofitting, heat pump installation, renewable energy, electric vehicles, and battery and energy storage. 

The event concluded with a lively discussion and networking. Its success demonstrated NU London’s increasing convening power locally, with the ongoing support of Northeastern’s Sustainability Hub in Boston.