Jim Murphy, the British Minister for Europe, and his French counterpart Jean-Pierre Jouyet hosted a meeting with representatives of business, the public sector and trade unions this past week, focusing on how Europe can keep a hold on the global lead on environmental action. They focused on pairing sustainable action and economic growth in the long term.

Murphy made clear the UK’s goal: one million workers in green collar jobs within 20 years. The plan is to focus on renewable energy projects and green technology:

"Renewable energy programs in Germany and Spain are just 10 years old but have already created hundreds of thousands of jobs. Germany is known for car giants like BMW, Mercedes and VW -- but by 2020, it will have more jobs in the field of environmental technologies than in its entire car industry. We need to match and exceed their efforts.”

Overall, the European Union has made a firm commitment to green jobs and green growth, and both Murphy and Jouyet made it clear that their countries will be a part of that growth.

Photo courtesy the Foreign Office