An alliance of climate campaigners has written to the Government, urging Michael Gove to refuse the Whitehaven coal mine application.
The chief executives of 14 leading environmental organisations have signed the letter; it comes at a key time for West Cumbria’s Mining’s Woodhouse Colliery bid as it is being reported widely that Mr Gove is in favour of it.
A senior Conservative source told The Daily Telegraph that they expect the Levelling-Up secretary to approve the application, believing it will slash the UK’s reliance on Russia for coal imports.
The final decision rests with the Secretary of State as an application to build the mine off the coast of Whitehaven was called-in
Mayor of Copeland Mike Starkie wrote to Mr Gove earlier this month urging him to approve the mine on the basis that 1.6 million metric tonnes of coal is exported from Russia for use in the production of British steel.
But in their letter to the Government, environmental groups headed up by Friends of the Earth said: “Steelmakers use a blend of coal from different sources and West Cumbria Mining has stated clearly that its coal is similar to and would replace coal from the US – not from Russia.”
The 14 signatories include Greenpeace, the RSPB and Green Alliance who all believe renewables such as solar power, offshore wind and low-carbon heating are the answer.
Supporters of the mine believe that it would support the UK’s ambitions to reach net zero carbon as it would mean the coal would be source on British shores rather than shipped in.
But the organisations writing to Mr Gove say: “It would significantly increase carbon emissions and make it harder to secure the global agreement needed to prevent average global temperatures from rising 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.”
They cite the Local Government Association’s estimate that there are over 6,000 green jobs up for grabs in Cumbria by 2020 if leaders invest in renewables.
Friends of the Earth energy campaigner, Tony Bosworth, said: “Only a few weeks ago, the UN Secretary General said that investing in new fossil fuel sources was ‘moral and economic madness’. Michael Gove must heed these words and reject the Cumbria coal mine: it will add to the climate crisis and the market for its product is fast disappearing as the steel industry moves to greener production.
“Areas such as West Cumbria should be at the forefront of the green economy we so urgently need. An energy policy based on energy efficiency and cheap homegrown renewables could provide hundreds of jobs for local people.”
The Planning Inspectorate has submitted its findings to Mr Gove after conducting a public inquiry into the mine last year.
He has made a recommendation and it is now over to the Secretary of State who must either approve or refuse the proposal by July 7.
