Whose Emissions Are They?

During Glasgow's Cop26, the UK government repeatedly pressured other countries to urgently abandon coal. This was on the logical basis that coal is the most polluting of hydrocarbon fuels and the biggest emitter of 'greenhouse gases'. Only a few weeks later, plans for an expansion of an underground coalmine in Wales, appear likely to be approved with the support of the UK government (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/dec/24/new-wales-coalmine-may-soon-be-approved-despite-cop26-pledges). Aberpergwm anthrocite mine is in the Neath Valley (South Wales). Over its life, the mine could generate 100m tonnes of carbon dioxide, as well as liberating methane (an even more potent 'greenhouse gas'). The mine was given an operational licence by the London-based Coal Authority in 2016. The devolved Welsh administration, were only given powers over their country's mining developments in 2018. They have used this power to ban open-cast mining of coal. The Welsh administration would also like to ban Aberpengwm's expansion. Whitehall, apparently doesn't take climate pledges too seriously. UK government is claiming it has jurisdiction over the expansion, which should go ahead. Money talks louder than pledges!