A new coal mine in Cumbria undermines the fight to tackle climate change

The government decision to allow a new coal mine to be opened in Cumbria has caused many to suggest that the pledge to tackle climate change in the UK is not a priority. It will certainly be questioned by many countries when they meet at the UN climate summit in November.

On a purely environmental level, the decision has caused uproar in the government and in wider society; with Greta Thunberg even suggesting that the decision showed pledges to achieve net zero emissions targets by 2050 "basically mean nothing".

Cumbria County Council have defended their decision by stating that there will be significant benefits to the local economy as it will create a number of jobs in an area where the rate of unemployment is high. Another reason for developing the mine is down to the type of coal being mined. The mine will extract coking coal which is a key ingredient in the production of steel. Many have said that if we don't have the coal within the country, then we have to import it which is still having an effect on the environment.

It is clear that there is a major division as to whether the opening of the mine is in the best interest of the country and government ministers could have declined the application. The pressure is now on the government and on the steel industry to adapt to greener technology and not being reliant on this fossil fuel, which is so harmful to the climate.

For more on this story, read the following article:

Coal mine go-ahead 'undermines climate summit' - BBC News