Whitehaven coal mine stopped in “resounding victory” for the environment

Louise Frohlich
Written By
Tamara Birch, senior writer, The Eco Experts
Reviewed By
Published on 17 September 2024
  • Plans to build a new coal mine in Whitehaven, Cumbria, have been rejected by the High Court
  • Judge ruling suggests that 99% of emissions weren’t taken into account
  • Green energy solutions could provide 9,000 jobs in Cumbria across 15 years
Coal mine

Emissions from burning coal would be equivalent to 220 million tonnes of Co2

Plans for the UK’s first deep coal mine in over 30 years have been stopped after the High Court ruled in favour of environmental activists Friends of the Earth and South Lakes Action on Climate Change (SLACC)

The ruling, described as a “resounding victory for climate justice” puts an end to proposals from West Cumbria Mining Ltd (WCM), which wanted to build the coal mine in Whitehaven, Cumbria. 

The court ruled that the plans had failed to consider the effect of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the mine and that the previous Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Levelling Up Michael Gove should not have approved them in 2022. 

Had it gone ahead the mine would have produced an estimated 2.78 million tonnes of metallurgical coal for the steel industry annually, until its planned closure in 2049. 

The proposed mine would create around 220 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, or more than half of the UK’s total emissions in 2022.

Friends of the Earth argued that the original decision was unlawful given Gove’s finding that the mine would be net zero based on WCM’s plan to purchase carbon offsets from the Gold Standard Foundation. However, the Foundation strongly opposed WCM’s plans, describing them as “greenwashing nonsense”. 

The Climate Change Committee (CCC) said that opening the mine would “increase global emissions and have an appreciable impact on the UK’s legally binding carbon budgets”.

However, Rain Newton-Smith, then chief economist and now Director-General of CBI, called the latest High Court ruling “a huge step backwards”. 

A report by Cumbria Action for Sustainability said that investing in green energy solutions could create 9,000 jobs in Cumbria over the next 15 years. 

Friends of the Earth have said that long-term, green jobs should be used to invest, looking towards a clean energy future rather than one that remains reliant on fossil fuels.

They suggested that a programme to insulate homes in West Cumbria would create as many jobs as the mine, while saving households hundreds in energy bills every year. Cumbria is also one of the top 3 areas in England with high potential for onshore wind farms, creating more jobs and increasing local investment.

Written by

Louise Frohlich

Louise joined The Eco Experts as Editorial Assistant in April 2004. She is a talented artist who has a keen interest in solutions that lead to a more environmentally-friendly future.

Louise graduated from the University of Winchester in 2022 and went on to write for The Eco Experts sister site, Expert Reviews. She has taken part in charity expeditions to Ecuador and Uganda to help build water pipes, promote environmental cleanup initiatives and implement sustainable farming techniques. She now uses her knowledge to help readers make more eco-friendly choices.

Alongside her passion for the environment she enjoys theatre, portraiture and Egyptology.

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Reviewed By

Tamara Birch, senior writer, The Eco Experts

Tamara is a London-based journalist and has written about environmental topics for more than four years. This includes advising small business owners on cost-effective ways, like solar panels and energy-efficient products, to help them become more sustainable.

She has used her journalist and research skills to become highly knowledgeable on sustainable initiatives, issues, and solutions to help consumers do their bit for the environment - all while reducing monthly costs.

In addition to adopting sustainable practices in her personal life, Tamara has worked in the retail B2B space to help independent retailers think about their environmental choices and how they can help improve their business. She now uses this knowledge to help consumers do the same.

Her passion for sustainability and eco-friendly solutions stems from a long obsession with nature and animals and ensuring they feel looked after. In her free time, Tamara enjoys reading fantasy novels, visiting the gym, and going on long walks in new areas.

You can get in touch with Tamara via email at tamara.birch@mvfglobal.com.

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