UK High Court Revokes Permit For First Coal Mine In 30 Years
High Court Quashes Planning Permission for New Coal Mine
On Friday, the High Court in London revoked a planning permission for the UK's first new coal mine in 30 years. The court ruled that the permit was unlawful as it did not consider the emissions from burning the fuel.
Climate Campaigners Challenge Coal Mining Project Approval
Earlier this year, climate campaigners, including Friends of the Earth, contested the approval of the coal mining project. The previous Conservative government in the UK approved the Woodhouse Colliery project in Whitehaven, northwest England, developed by West Cumbria Mining, in December 2022.
Project Aimed to Support Steelmaking Transition to Net Zero
The project aimed to mine metallurgical coal, which is used for steelmaking. The developers stated that this would be required to support steelmaking throughout the transition to Net Zero over the next few decades.
New Labour Government Withdraws Support for Project
However, the new Labour government in the UK withdrew its support for the project in July and announced that it would no longer defend the case at the High Court. The UK's new Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner, acknowledged that there was an "error of law" in the approval from December 2022.
Landmark Supreme Court Judgment Influences Decision
The government's decision to stop defending the project follows a landmark Supreme Court judgment from June 2024. The judgment ruled that a local council unlawfully granted approval to an onshore oil drilling project because planners must have considered the emissions from the oil's future use as fuels. This case could impact new UK fossil fuel projects.
High Court Agrees with Legal Challenges
The High Court agreed with the legal challenges that the lifetime emissions of the proposed Whitehaven mine, mostly from burning coal, were not properly considered, making the approval unlawful. "We have to leave fossil fuels in the ground and build the cleaner, brighter future that will slash emissions, cut bills and create the well-paid jobs of tomorrow that areas like West Cumbria so urgently need," said Niall Toru, senior lawyer at Friends of the Earth.
Bottom Line
This decision by the High Court marks a significant step in the UK's transition to a greener future. The revocation of the permit for the first new coal mine in 30 years sends a clear message that the country is serious about its commitment to reducing emissions and moving away from fossil fuels. But what do you think about this development? Do you agree with the High Court's decision? Share your thoughts and discuss this article with your friends. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, delivered to your inbox every day at 6pm.