World’s Top Scientists Condemn Cumbrian Coal Mine
“To open a new coal mine in the face of the climate crisis sends out the worst possible message to the rest of the world”
(London, 18th July 2022) – Amid the political upheavals in Westminster, the new Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, announced that the decision on the proposed Cumbrian coal mine in Whitehaven is set to be taken by 17 August 2022.
Hopeful that, in the current political climate, Rt Hon Clark may resolve that this is a decision for a new Prime Minister, the World’s top climate scientists have issued an open letter addressed to the Prime Minister and all members of parliament urging the government not to give the disputed mine the green light.
“UK and international scientists are universal in their condemnation of proposed Cumbrian coal mine” says Scientists Warning Europe (SWE) managing director Ed Gemmell. “If the government allows the coal mine to open it will totally undermine the UK’s supposed leadership on climate action. As said in our letter, this would be a reckless step backwards into our murky fossil-fuelled past.”
Chairman of the UK's independent Committee on Climate Change, the Rt Hon. the Lord Deben, has said the opening of the Cumbrian coal mine is ‘indefensible’. This accords directly with the opinion of World leading scientists such as James Hansen, Sir David King, Professor William Moomaw, and IPCC authors Tim Lenton from University of Exeter and Svitlana Krakovska from The National Antarctic Scientific Center of the Ukraine. Professor Kraokovska has remained in Kyiv despite war raging in Ukraine.
Professor Dave Goulson, scientific advisor to SWE states, “to open a new coal mine in the face of the climate crisis sends out the worst possible message to the rest of the world.”
Professor Goulson’s view is supported by internationally acclaimed climatologist and geophysicist Michael Mann. Dr Mann asks, "Why, when profitable clean renewable energy solutions are ready to go, would the UK allow investment in backward looking dirty energy that is terrible for the planet? The UK would be much better encouraging development of its biggest free resource - wind."
The Scientists Warning Europe letter goes even further by suggesting there is significant economic advantage to be derived from the UK getting to carbon zero before other major economies, and ideally by 2030.
“Forward looking governments and communities will seize upon this moment - especially in light of the Ukraine invasion and independence from Russian fossil fuels,” says environmental futures, sustainability, and conservation science professor, and SWE advisor, Dr Phoebe Barnard. “It is as an opportunity to reframe themselves more wisely for a significantly less wasteful, more sustainable and meaningful future. The time is now, if we wish to retain a stable planet, stable climate, and stable society.”
The SWE letter refers to the latest of the great Scientists Warning to Humanity papers, published in October 2021, in which 1.5C was confirmed as already being out of sight. 2030 is now the target the scientists recommend as ideal for reaching carbon zero. Failing that they urge the need to do so “well in advance of 2050” to ensure humanity’s survival.
The letter insists, “The World’s scientists are outside the window in the street screaming alarm at the top of their voices. It is now up to those in power to open their windows and listen to these voices before it is simply too late.”
Scientists Warning Europe’s mission is to protect the future of our planet, our children, and all creatures by presenting and promoting science endorsed solutions for a sustainable and equitable future. The charity represents tens of thousands of scientists and works with them in the UK and Europe to educate and inform the public, political and other leaders about the rapidly increasing dangers of climate change and the destruction of the World’s ecosystems. All decisions and information from Scientists Warning Europe is based on core climate science. SWE encourages groups and individuals to join in promoting scientists’ climate warnings. Please get in contact if you’d like to help.
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