Representatives of High Peak Green New Deal gathered outside the constituency office of MP Robert Largan, demanding immediate investment in green jobs with no return to austerity in the wake of the Covid crisis.
The group said it followed new research which showed that almost 1,900 jobs could be created in the High Peak across green infrastructure and care work in the next two years.
They also said data, compiled by Green New Deal UK, revealed that the High Peak is likely to suffer more than 1,200 permanent job losses due to the Covid-19 pandemic - losses which could be replaced by nearly 1,900 green jobs in new and existing industries.
The national data includes jobs in sectors like solar energy, offshore wind and energy efficiency - all of which are essential to the UK meeting its national and international climate targets.
The High Peak group says it also includes jobs in digital infrastructure, research and social care.
It added that the Green New Deal is about creating a society where public services are protected and no-one is left behind, as well as cutting carbon and protecting the environment.
The research from Green New Deal UK found that 1.2m green jobs could be created throughout Britain in the next two years at a cost of around £68bn - far less than the £100bn which is being spent on HS2.
“We can’t afford not to do this,” said local Green New Deal member Mary Moss.
“There’s an unemployment crisis and a climate crisis and a Green New Deal can create thousands of good green jobs right here in Glossop and the High Peak.
“We can only build back better out of the Covid crisis with massive investment in green jobs and protection of our health and social care system.”
Peter Allen, the group’s spokesman on peat, said: “We have a great opportunity in the High Peak to benefit from investment in our moorlands.
“By protecting and restoring our peatlands we can store huge amounts of carbon, improve the habitat for wildlife and help to prevent both flooding and fires, as well as providing dozens of good green jobs.”
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