UK coal mine project hit by climate change concerns https://t.co/eEGBTOU90t
— Financial Times (@FT) March 11, 2021
A new coal mine in the UK appears doomed after the government bowed to pressure to further delay planning approval. Robert Jenrick, the communities secretary, ordered a public inquiry into the £160m project near Whitehaven in north-west England, citing concerns about climate change.
Cumbria county council, the planning authority, approved the plan in October. Jenrick gave the final go-ahead in January. But after vociferous lobbying by green groups and activists, including Greta Thunberg and Sir David Attenborough, the council said it would re-examine the application. West Cumbria Mining, the developer, launched a judicial review into that decision last week and now Jenrick has stepped in.
A public inquiry will last more than a year, putting off the issue beyond the COP26 climate talks in November. WCM has already indicated that further delay would cause its Australian investors to scrap the project, which has cost £36m so far.
Some (possible) good news! There's quite a way to go before Boris Johnson can call himself a climate leader, but if the government cans this plan, then it's at least a step in the right direction https://t.co/7KGcE2VriK
— Greenpeace UK (@GreenpeaceUK) March 11, 2021
