RESIDENTS will play a crucial role in helping the UK to reach its net zero target by 2050.

National Grid has pledged for thousands of people in Berkshire to help reduce their carbon emissions to tackle climate change by taking on new jobs.

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Carolina Tortora, head of innovation strategy, based in Wokingham, said: "National Grid takes Net Zero seriously and I have no doubt we’ll get there.

"Innovators need to know a bit of everything to satisfy a problem, which is why we endorse partnership working. If you have enough technical curiosity, and some form of engineering knowledge – electricity, gas, thermal dynamics – you can find out what you need to know."

Research carried out by YouGov shows tackling climate change could be the next step to unlocking new talent as people of all ages are looking for a job with an 'environmental purpose'.

The data shows 79 per cent of adults in the South East say they are keen to play their part in helping the environment.

58 per cent say they would like to work for a company that is helping the UK deliver its net zero goals.

National Grid hopes to create 54,900 jobs in the next 30 years.

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This number is fuelled by projects such as Project Cavendish, feasibility study in the South East in collaboration with Cadent, SGN and Arup.

This will investigate the possibility of taking hydrogen from the Isle of Grain to South London, where it will be used in London Underground and to power hydrogen buses in the south east of the capital.

Carolina added: "As Head of Innovation Strategy we have to live in the future we want now. What are the problems of Net Zero? What are the issues and technical challenges when you have no active coal power plants? We need to find solutions today that will maximize consumer benefits, and we have less than five years to get ideas ready for upscaling and into our business as a mainstream response."