The transition to a net zero economy by 2050 will have profound implications for every region of the UK. But different parts of the country will face different opportunities and challenges during the transition.
In this research project, Demos have explored what the transition to net zero could mean for both individuals and businesses in the Black Country – using this as a case study for a place-based approach to net zero policy making. They found that in the absence of additional action, up to 12,000 individuals currently working in manufacturing – 20% of the Black Country manufacturing workforce – could become long-term unemployed by 2032.
In the 2023 Spring Budget, Jeremy Hunt announced a ‘trailblazer deeper devolution deal’ between the government and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) which gives the WMCA new powers to influence the region’s economy.
In Net Zero to Level Up, recommendations include how the Combined Authority should use some of these additional devolved powers to achieve a just transition in the Black Country: one which increases opportunity and reduces deprivation. Demos predict that if the new powers are used correctly, up to 20,000 net zero jobs could be created by 2032 in the Black Country, opening up new employment opportunities for residents, and that the 12,000 manufacturing jobs could be saved.
