Planned coalmine in Whitehaven, Cumbria

That this House is concerned by Government plans to approve the first new coalmine for 30 years in Whitehaven, Cumbria, in order to supply steelworks; notes that industry figures say there’s no demand for the mine, and that a former British Steel Chief Executive has warned the plans will delay the conversion to green steel; further notes that coal from the proposed mine will mostly be exported to Europe, will not reduce reliance on Russian coal, and will create far fewer jobs in Cumbria than would be generated by investment in green industries; recognises that no new unabated coal plants, new coal mines or mine extensions can be approved for development after 2021 according to the IEA if global temperature rise is to be limited to 1.5 degrees; further recognises the Glasgow Climate Pact committed the UK to accelerating efforts towards the phasedown of unabated coal power; welcomes the UK’s founding role in the creation of the Powering Past Coal Alliance and the Government’s recognition that the current statutory duty to maintain and develop an economically viable domestic coal-mining industry is at odds with its climate leadership ambitions and policies on coal; and therefore calls on the Government to urgently rule out any new coal mining in the UK, set a 2035 near zero emission steel target, and amend the Coal Industry Act to give the Coal Authority a statutory duty to manage the phasing out of the coal industry, with priority given to a just transition for workers.