The UK government is set to introduce legislation that will ban the licensing of new coal mines as part of its efforts to establish Britain as a leader in clean energy.
The new law is expected to be unveiled “as soon as possible,” and officials have described it as a critical move in addressing climate change. The announcement has been welcomed by environmental groups and follows the closure of the UK’s last coal-fired power station, Ratcliffe-on-Soar, in October. With this closure, the UK became the first G7 country to eliminate its reliance on coal for electricity generation.
This move follows a landmark ruling in September when British courts overturned a permit granted by the previous Conservative government for a new coal mine project in Whitehaven, Cumbria. The proposed mine, which would have extracted metallurgical coal used for steelmaking, was set to be the first new coal mine in the UK in 30 years.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks stated that “leaving coal power behind” would allow for the development of a clean and secure energy system. He emphasized that this would benefit consumers by reducing bills and create new job opportunities in clean energy industries.
Friends of the Earth climate campaigner Tony Bosworth called the ban “great news” and stated that it would “finally consign coal to the history books.”
Coal’s role in the UK’s energy mix has decreased dramatically. It made up around 40 percent of the country’s electricity supply in 2012 but now accounts for zero percent, according to the government.
The decision comes as global carbon dioxide emissions from oil, gas, and coal reached a record high this year, underscoring the urgency of cutting down on fossil fuel use.
The Labour government, which won the general election in July, has made ambitious climate commitments. Among its pledges, it aims to decarbonize the electricity grid by 2030. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also announced a goal to reduce the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions by 81 percent compared to 1990 levels by 2035, as part of the country’s broader plan to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
At the same time, nations attending climate summits have pledged to “transition away” from fossil fuels in an effort to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
In addition to the coal mine ban, the UK’s Labour government has also lifted a ban on new onshore wind projects that was imposed by the previous Conservative administration. Furthermore, it has ended new oil and gas exploration licenses in the North Sea, continuing its commitment to clean energy transition.
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