Hi John,
Recently, I wrote to you about plans for a deep coalmine near Whitehaven in Cumbria, the UK’s first in more than 30 years. Going ahead with the mine would mean the extraction of almost three million tonnes of coal every year until 2050, fatally undermining the UK’s target of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by that same year.
If we are to ensure a climate safe future, then there can be no place for new coal mines. Will you help us stop the mine?
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Since my previous email, pressure has been growing on the UK government. James Hansen, the former Nasa scientist who has been called the “godfather of climate change”, wrote to Boris Johnson rightly pointing out that the plan for the mine “shows contemptuous disregard of the future of young people and nature”. (1)
And the Climate Change Committee, the independent body which advises the UK government on how to reach its greenhouse gas emissions targets, has expressed its concern about the increase in emissions that will result from the mine and urged the government to consider further its policy towards all new coal development. (2)
The communities secretary, Robert Jenrick MP, has the power to intervene in the decision over the mine and to stop it. There's still time for him to do this - but not much!
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If the government doesn’t stop the mine, it will make a nonsense of its claim to be a climate leader in the run-up to the UN climate talks in Glasgow this November. And for those countries coming to the talks who are considering whether to invest in green energy or coal for the future, is the message ‘do as we say, not as we do’?
As a recent editorial in the Financial Times pointed out: "Plans for a small coal mine in Cumbria are becoming a symbol of the UK government’s inability to match ambitious words on climate change with action." (3)
We know that there are some in the government who realise this and don’t agree with approving this new mine.
Let’s make sure they know that we don’t want this mine.
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Thank you,
James O'Nions
Head of activism at Global Justice Now
PS. you can read more about the case against the mine in this blog post on our website, written by Global Justice Now member Maggie Mason.
(1) Top climate scientist warns PM over 'contemptuous' Cumbria coalmine plan, The Guardian, 4 February
(2) Letter: Deep Coal Mining in the UK, Climate Change Committee, 29 January
(3) Cumbria mine tarnishes UK’s green credentials, Financial Times, 5 February
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