The first new UK coal mine in 30 years was given the go ahead tonight despite widespread opposition and concerns about its climate impacts.
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove waved through the plans to build the new Whitehaven mine in Cumbria which would dig up coking coal for steel production in the UK and across the world.
But the decision has been slammed by environmentalists, who say it will obliterate the UK's image as a climate leader.
Friends of the Earth campaigner, Tony Bosworth, said: “Approving this mine is a misguided and deeply damaging mistake that flies in the face of all the evidence. The mine isn’t needed, will add to global climate emissions, and won’t replace Russian coal.”
Greenpeace UK Policy Director Doug Parr said: “Only a month ago, Rishi Sunak was claiming he wanted to make the UK a ‘clean energy superpower'. Now, he has approved the first new coal mine in over thirty years.
“The UK government risks becoming a superpower in climate hypocrisy rather than climate leadership. How can we possibly expect other countries to rein in fossil fuel extraction when we're building new coal mines here?
“Worse still, this mine will do absolutely nothing for the UK’s energy security since the coal it contains can only be used for steelmaking, not generating power, and more than 80% of it is earmarked for sale in Europe anyway.”
The fate of the West Cumbria Mining project had been hanging in the balance for two years after the local county council initially approved the mine in 2020.
The project's approval was suspended in early 2021, ahead of the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, after the government's climate change adviser said it would increase carbon emissions.
Supporters claim the mine, near Whitehaven, say it will create jobs and reduce the need to import coal.
But the government's advisory Climate Change Committee (UKCCC) said that 85% of the coal produced by the mine would be exported. Lord Deben, chairman of the CCC, called the proposal "absolutely indefensible" and said it would damage the UK's leadership on climate change.
The mine could also release as much pollution as putting 200,000 extra cars on UK roads, analysis by think tank Green Alliance has found.
Planning authorities reviewed the original decision and sent a report to the secretary of state of communities to review and make a final judgement. A letter outlining the decision said Communities Secretary Michael Gove agreed with the recommendation to approve the mine as he was "satisfied that there is currently a UK and European market for the coal".
The developers, West Cumbria Mining, say it will be the world's first 'net zero' coal mine of its kind, as they will offset the emissions from the construction phase.
Some local groups including We Support West Cumbria Mining are in favour of the jobs it would bring. Tory MP for Workington Mark Jenkinson had also been urging Michael Gove to give the go ahead. He said: “As Britain still needs coking coal for the foreseeable future to make our world-leading steel, it should come from here, not imported thousands of miles away - which will only increase our carbon footprint any further."
But the colliery, which will not produce coal for power, but coking coal used for steel-making, has divided opinion in Cumbria with many against it.
Dr Ruth Balogh, co-ordinator of West Cumbria Friends of the Earth, said: “This short-sighted decision is bad news for the climate and the region's long-term well-being. West Cumbria needs sustainable green jobs for the future – not a dirty coal mine. This will contribute to the planet-warming emissions that are causing extreme weather events all over the world, such as the intense flooding which we now experience more frequently across Cumbria.”
Shadow secretary for climate change, Ed Milliband said: “This decision is no solution to the energy crisis, it does not offer secure, long-term jobs, and it marks this government giving up on all pretence of climate leadership.
Waving this mine through further cements Rishi Sunak as an out of date fossil fuel PM in a renewable age.
Tom Fyans, interim CEO at CPRE, the countryside charity, added: “The people of Cumbria are crying out for good jobs and a stable future.”
“Instead of grasping the opportunity to lead the world in a clean and green industrial revolution, here we are clinging onto the dirty coal that powered and poisoned the Victorian era. This shameful decision beggars belief. It will degrade the countryside, pollute the atmosphere and makes a mockery of the government’s legally binding climate commitments.”
