UK net zero economy is booming says new research

Imagine if there was a business sector that was growing at three times the rate of UK economy, providing high-wage jobs and increasing energy security. Well, imagine no more because that is exactly what is happening to the net zero economy according to the latest research released today by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

According to the CBI, net zero is the industrial opportunity of the 21st century – and all across the country too – because in a new report it has found that the green economy was widely distributed around the UK.

The CBI’s research has revealed that the net zero economy grew by 10% in 2024 and generated a significant £83bn in gross value added (GVA), a measure of how much value companies add to the economy as a result of the goods and services they produce. That means that the net zero sector is now growing three times faster than the UK economy as a whole and providing high-wage jobs across the country while crucially cutting carbon emissions and increasing energy security.

Interestingly, the CBI’s research also revealed that 22,000 net zero businesses, from renewable energy to green finance, employ nearly one million people in full-time jobs and that the £43,000 average annual wage in those businesses was also £5,600 higher than the national average. So, the evidence is clear that the net zero economy is good for the country, good for providing well-paid secure jobs and also good for the environment. A win, win, win for everyone if ever there was one!

At a time when there is much talk in political circles and the media about having a balance between growth and looking after the environment, this latest analysis from the CBI together with the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit*, shows that economic growth and climate action do in fact go together and improve people’s lives and livelihoods into the bargain.

As the CBI’s chief economist, Louise Hellem, says: “It is clear, you can’t have growth without green. 2025 is the year when the rubber really hits the road, where inaction is indisputably costlier than action. We are approaching critical points of no return for energy security and emissions reduction. It’s really fantastic to see the growing strength of the net zero economy in the UK and we need to really continue to see that ambition.”

Energy secretary Ed Miliband welcomed the CBI’s research, saying: “These numbers speak for themselves. Net zero is essential to growth, a strong economy and money in working people’s pockets.”

The growing strength of the UK’s net zero economy will be showcased at the forthcoming Innovation Zero World 2025, the premier event for investors, funders, corporate buyers and policymakers to connect with over 300 cutting-edge technology and service providers leading the charge in the low carbon economy. Whether you're looking to advance your decarbonisation goals or enhance your investment strategy, the event is where innovation meets opportunity. Can you afford to be anywhere else?

* The Future is Green: The economic opportunities brought by the UK’s net zero economy.
https://eciu.net/analysis/reports/2025/net-zero-economy-across-the-uk