Climate change: Minister rapped for allowing Cumbria coal mine
The governments climate change advisors have rapped ministers for allowing a new coal mine in Cumbria. They say the site will increase global emissions and compromise the UKs legally binding carbon budgets. They warn the decision could undermine its leadership of the vital COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in November. The new deep coking coal mine was agreed by Cumbria County Council and the government previously said it did not want to intervene . The rebuke comes in the form of a letter from the chair of the Climate Change Committee (CCC), Lord Deben, to the planning minister Robert Jenrick, which says: In response to the letter, a government spokesperson said the decision to allow the coal mine would not be reversed. Cumbria councillors told BBC News there were no good planning grounds for them to refuse permission for the mine, near Whitehaven, and said it would help to diversify local employment prospects. The governments chief planning officer Joanna Averley defended Mr Jenricks decision not to over-rule their consent for the mine. She told conference on planning policy arranged by the countryside charity CPRE that the decision was only a local issue. She was asked why, given the UK's policies on cutting carbon, Mr Jenrick had not exercised his powers to overrule Cumbria County Council's approval of the mine. Ms Averley said: "The Secretary of State has to make a judgement based on whether the impacts of the scheme are more than local. "And in this case, the decision was that this was a decision for local determination, and the application was approved by the local authority... a decision for local democracy." She said the planning department was playing its part in tackling climate change. Environmentalists have reacted with astonishment and disbelief, saying the carbon from burning coal is clearly a global concern. John Sauven, from Greenpeace, said: "Its extraordinary that anyone still believes burning coal is only a local issue and has no global impacts. "Lets hope China doesnt take the same view or the world will be toast. It certainly isnt setting the global leadership on climate that the prime minister says he's aspiring to." The critics point out that the UK has also helped drive an international group called the Powering Past Coal Alliance. Supporters of the mine say it will supply coking coal for steel manufacture in the UK and that will save the need to import coal. Follow Roger on Twitter. Government defends Cumbria coal mine green light First deep coal mine in 30 years a step closer Coal mine approved for third time despite protests Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Govt Race against time to save Morocco quake survivors US denies Cold War with China in historic Vietnam visit How Russia and West agreed on Ukraine G20 language How Russia and West agreed on Ukraine G20 language US denies Cold War with China in historic Vietnam visit 'Everyone in this village is either dead or missing' At the scene of Morocco mosque collapsed by quake. Video At the scene of Morocco mosque collapsed by quake Inside the horror of Europe's biggest wildfire Inside a 'hijacked' South African building. Video Inside a 'hijacked' South African building How chronic pain feels for me. Video How chronic pain feels for me The rise and fall of a parenting influencer Guyana scrambles to make the most of oil wealth Florida's first hurricane-proof town The greatest spy novel ever written? Why is everyone crazy about Aperol? 2023 BBC.