UK’s First New Coal Mine in 30 Years Blocked by High Court Ruling
The UK’s first new coal mine in 30 years, the Whitehaven coal mine, has been dealt a major blow after a High Court judge ruled against its approval, Sky News reports.
The decision, announced today, invalidates the previous government’s approval of the project, citing a “legally flawed” assumption about the mine’s environmental impact. Mr Justice Holgate stated that the assumption that the mine would not increase greenhouse gas emissions or be a net-zero mine was incorrect.
The ruling follows a landmark Supreme Court decision in June that determined that the full environmental damage caused by burning fossil fuels must be considered when approving new projects. This precedent has paved the way for legal challenges against fossil fuel extraction projects across the UK.
The Whitehaven mine, championed by West Cumbria Mining, was approved by the Conservative government in December 2022, despite criticism from climate experts. The project promised 500 jobs and coking coal for the steel industry, but faced mounting opposition due to its potential climate impact.
The Labour government, which came to power earlier this year, initially defended the project but later dropped its support, citing an “error of law” in the initial approval. Despite the government’s change of stance, West Cumbria Mining continued to fight for the project.
Today’s High Court ruling throws the future of the Whitehaven mine into uncertainty. West Cumbria Mining is expected to consider its options, which could include appealing the decision or withdrawing the application altogether.
