When You're in a Hole: The Advice is to Stop Digging

The UK government's approval of a scheme to open a first coalmine in 30 years, is wrong on so many levels. The pit, near Whitehaven in Cumbria, was been given the green light, on the basis, that it will 'only' produce coking coal 'needed' for steel manufacture. This scheme was supported by some local politicians, on the basis of its generating jobs in a 'deprived' locality (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/dec/08/tim-farron-calls-approval-of-first-uk-coalmine-in-30-years-daft). Whitehaven actually became deprived as a result of the closure of its out-dated coalmines, 30 years ago. There are many other ways (local investment for jobs in 'green' technologies, environmental improvement etc), by which 'leveling up' could have been achieved in this locality. These jobs would have lasted, whereas the mine is scheduled to close in 2029. Modern steel-making companies are exploring ways of making their product, using Arc furnaces, that do not require coal. The Whitehaven coal is also high in sulfur, which doesn't appeal to steel-makers. It's intended that 83% of Whitehaven's coal would be exported, along with its 'greenhouse gas' emissions! Those exports might well not be sustainable. The most obvious reason for not going ahead with this pit, however, is the message it sends out about the UK. This country, at Glasgow's Cop26 meeting, pleaded with the rest of the world to cease using coal. Approving this coalmine, consequently looks positively hypocritical. Any politician can always find a reason (real or imagined), why they or their voters should be an exception. Climate change, however, can only be countered by all people doing the right thing. Approving this Cumbrian coalmine is certainly not the right thing!