The UK government is said to be “on the verge” of giving the green light to a new controversial coal mine in Cumbria, prompting a furious response from concerned environmental groups and activists.
According to proposals, the Woodhouse mine near Whitehaven in Cumbria will be the first new deep coal mine since the 1980s and will produce coking coal from under the Irish Sea, 85 per cent of which will be exported.
According to a report in the Sunday Telegraph, Michael Gove, secretary for equalization, housing and communities, may approve the controversial new mine as early as next month.
Coking coal will be used by the steel industry, but critics say it is now unnecessary to use hydrogen and electricity-based technologies to produce steel.
The mine has already drawn international condemnation, with Joe Biden’s climate envoy John Kerry criticizing plans ahead of last year’s UK Cop26 summit, calling coal “the dirtiest fuel in the world.”
High Conservative sources told The Sunday Telegraph that Mr Gove was believed to support the mine opening plan and that his decision would largely depend on recommendations made by the Planning Inspectorate.
The mine received a controversial green light from local councilors in October 2020, sparking outrage that the government refused to “call” for such a major development with significant emission potential.
After fierce opposition, the government took a hard turn and launched an investigation to review plans for the £ 165m mine.
Independent government advisers, the Climate Change Committee, said the Woodhouse stone mine would “increase global emissions and have a significant impact on legally binding carbon budgets.”
Although the government has until July to decide on the project, it seems that a decision may be inevitable.
The move to expand coal production in the UK is coming as the government also commits to new drilling in the North Sea for oil and gas.
Activists say the government is undermining Britain’s position as a world leader in tackling the global climate crisis.
Just this month, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that governments must take much more radical action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Launching the latest report from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, he warned: “Climate activists are sometimes portrayed as dangerous radicals. But the really dangerous radicals are the countries that are increasing the production of fossil fuels.
“Investing in new fossil fuel infrastructure is moral and economic madness.
Carla Denier, a supporter of the Green Party of England and Wales, told The Independent that allowing the mine to continue means that Boris Johnson’s government is undermining the key message – to reduce coal use – agreed at the summit. Cop26 in Glasgow.
She said: “The plan to give the green light to a new coal mine in Cumbria is extremely reckless and shows that the Tory government is renouncing any claim to leadership in the climate crisis. As president of Cop26, the government is urging other countries to take action on the climate, while at home it agrees to invest in the most polluting of all fossil fuels.
“We need to invest in renewables and a national home insulation program to tackle the cost of living crisis and reduce carbon emissions, not throw more money into coal.
Tony Bosworth, an energy campaign at Friends of the Earth, told The Independent that instead, the government should focus on supporting growth in clean industries to provide sustainable jobs in areas where they are needed.
He said: “Only three weeks ago, the UN Secretary-General called countries investing in new fossil fuel infrastructure really dangerous radicals.
“Still, it is rumored that the first open-pit coal mine in the United Kingdom in 30 years is being seriously considered. The approval of the Cumbria coal mine would drill a huge hole in the government’s remaining confidence in the climate.
“Michael Gove needs to ensure that areas like Western Cumbria, which have huge potential for long-term, sustainable employment in clean industries, are at the forefront of the green economy investment we desperately need.
The government is likely to face a significant backlash if the mine gets the green light. Last year’s YouGov poll on the Green Alliance think tank showed minimal support for new coal mines. Only 14% of people said they were in favor of plans to expand coal production in the UK.
Rose Buleid, deputy director of policy at the Green Alliance, told The Independent: “The new coal mines are unpopular with the public and would run counter to the government’s confidence as president of Cop26.
“The steel industry across Europe is already moving to low-carbon steel production, which will reduce the demand for coal and may make all the new jobs created by this mine redundant in the near future.
“The best way to create good and sustainable jobs for communities is to support industries such as the steel sector to decarbonise, not to support a declining coal industry.
The government’s Leveling Up confirmed to The Independent that it had received the mine report from the Planning Inspectorate, but a spokesman said they were unable to comment on reports that Mr Gove was ready to give the green light to the mine, as as the Report was for consideration only by the Ministers.
Add Comment