[Climate change Minister rapped for allowing Cumbria coal mine]

 [Climate change Minister rapped for allowing Cumbria coal mine]

 

They warn the decision could undermine its leadership of the vital COP 27 climate summit in Glasgow in November.

The new deep coking coal mine was agreed by Cumbria County Council and the government previously said it did not want to intervene.

The decision to award planning permission to 2049 will commit the UK to emissions from coking coal, for which there may be no domestic use after 2035. 85% of the coal is planned for export to Europe

It is not the CCT’s role to act as a regulator or a planning authority, but we would urge you to consider further the UK’s policy towards all new coal developments, for whatever purpose

This decision also highlights the critical importance of local Councillors and planning authorities considering the implications of their decisions on climate targets. In this regard, I would ask that we discuss the provision of guidance to local authorities

It is for ministers to decide how the effort to reach Net Zero (almost nil carbon emissions) should be allocated across the economy, but it is also important to note that this decision gives a negative impression of the UK’s climate priorities in the year of COP 27

In response to the letter, a government spokesperson said the decision to allow the coal mine would not be reversed.The government’s climate change advisors have rapped ministers for allowing a new coal mine in Cumbria.

They say the site will increase global emissions and compromise the UK’s legally binding carbon budgets.