Online Newsletter
Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest news and information from publics.bg

News

World news

26.03.2018 12:47

Britain stops a new coal mine project on climate grounds

AUTHOR: publics.bg

© banksgroup.co.uk

Britain has rejected plans for a new open cast coal mine in northeastern England. According to the minister for local government the project could hinder Britain in its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and curb climate change, Reuters cited.

Proponents of the project stated it would create jobs which were necessary in the region, while environmental campaigners said it would go against Britain’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gases.

Britain plans to phase-out coal use at its power stations by 2025 as a part of its efforts to meet its climate targets. The country is also part of an international alliance pushing other countries to do the same.

Northumberland County Council agreed last year that the mine’s developer The Banks Group could extract 3 million tonnes of coal by cutting an open cast near Druridge Bay, Highthorn.

On Friday, however, local government minister Sajid Javid rejected the application following a public inquiry, government documents show. The project was said to be likely to have “adverse effect on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change of very substantial significance.”

Gavin Styles, managing director at the mine’s developer Banks Mining, said the decision had been taken for “purely political reasons” since Britain still depended on coal for a number of purposes. He added that it was very important to secure investment in North East England which would create “dozens of high quality local jobs” and would enable regional suppliers to win contracts.

According to company’s representatives, the project could employ 100 people and generate almost 50 million pounds ($70.43 million) in related contracts. They added that there would be other benefits to the local community as well.

Styles said the company would carefully review the decision before coming up with a statement what next steps they were going to take.

Environmentalists had opposed the plans because it would destroy an area of natural beauty. Besides, extracting more coal is at odds with international pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Paris climate pact.

“This is the first coal mine ever to be rejected in the UK because of climate change impacts – a vindication for everyone who has been calling for fossil fuels to be left in the ground,” Rose Dickinson said, a campaigner with environmental group Friends of the Earth.

Reuters reminded that Britain had a legally binding target to cut emissions of harmful greenhouse gases, such as those produced by fossil-fuel-based power plants, by 80 percent from 1990 levels by 2050. The country also signed up to the international Paris agreement to curb emissions.