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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| First UK coal mine in decades approved | First UK coal mine in decades approved |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| The mine would be near Whitehaven in Cumbria | The mine would be near Whitehaven in Cumbria |
| Michael Gove has approved the first new UK coal mine in 30 years despite concern about its climate impacts among Conservative MPs and experts. | Michael Gove has approved the first new UK coal mine in 30 years despite concern about its climate impacts among Conservative MPs and experts. |
| The proposed mine in Cumbria would dig up coking coal for steel production in the UK across the world. | The proposed mine in Cumbria would dig up coking coal for steel production in the UK across the world. |
| Critics say the mine would undermine climate targets and demand for coking coal is declining. | Critics say the mine would undermine climate targets and demand for coking coal is declining. |
| But supporters claim the mine, near Whitehaven, will create jobs and reduce the need to import coal. | But supporters claim the mine, near Whitehaven, will create jobs and reduce the need to import coal. |
| The fate of the West Cumbria Mining project had been hanging in the balance for two years after the local county council initially approved the mine in 2020. | The fate of the West Cumbria Mining project had been hanging in the balance for two years after the local county council initially approved the mine in 2020. |
| The project's approval was suspended in early 2021, ahead of the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, after the government's climate change adviser said it would increase carbon emissions. | The project's approval was suspended in early 2021, ahead of the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, after the government's climate change adviser said it would increase carbon emissions. |
| The government's advisory Climate Change Committee (UKCCC) pointed out that 85% of the coal produced by the mine would be exported. | The government's advisory Climate Change Committee (UKCCC) pointed out that 85% of the coal produced by the mine would be exported. |
| Lord Deben, chairman of the CCC, branded the proposal "absolutely indefensible" and said its approval would damage the UK's leadership on climate change. | Lord Deben, chairman of the CCC, branded the proposal "absolutely indefensible" and said its approval would damage the UK's leadership on climate change. |
| Would a new coal mine threaten the UK's climate goals? | |
| Coal mine plan indefensible, UK climate chief says | |
| The environmental case for buying a coal mine | |
| Planning authorities reviewed the original decision and sent a report to the secretary of state of communities to review and make a final judgement. | Planning authorities reviewed the original decision and sent a report to the secretary of state of communities to review and make a final judgement. |
| A letter outlining the decision said Mr Gove - the communities and levelling-up secretary - agreed with the planning inspector's recommendation to approve the mine. | |
| The letter says Mr Gove was "satisfied that there is currently a UK and European market for the coal". | The letter says Mr Gove was "satisfied that there is currently a UK and European market for the coal". |
| The secretary of state agrees with the assessment that the effects of the development on carbon emissions "would be relatively neutral and not significant", the letter says. | |
| The department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said the decision was consistent with the government's policies on curbing carbon emissions. | |
| But opposition parties and environmental groups condemned the decision as harmful for the climate and the UK's transition to a greener economy. | |
| Friends of the Earth said the decision was a "misguided and deeply damaging mistake that flies in the face of all the evidence". | |
| "The mine isn't needed, will add to global climate emissions, and won't replace Russian coal," said Friends of the Earth campaigner, Tony Bosworth. | |
| The Liberal Democrats said the decision left the government's environmental credentials "in tatters". | |
| "Rishi Sunak's government is trashing our country's reputation as a world lead in cutting emissions," said the party's environment spokesperson, Tim Farron. | |
| The decision could expose divisions within the Conservative Party, whose greener MPs have spoken out against the plans. | The decision could expose divisions within the Conservative Party, whose greener MPs have spoken out against the plans. |
| The mine has also divided opinion in Cumbria, with some in favour of the jobs it would bring, but others warning of the risks of climate change. | The mine has also divided opinion in Cumbria, with some in favour of the jobs it would bring, but others warning of the risks of climate change. |