UK court rules govt’s plan to build new coal mine unlawful on climate grounds.

CNN —

Britain’s High Court deemed the approval of the country’s first new deep coal mine in decades unlawful, following a legal challenge by environmental groups. Friends of the Earth and South Lakeland Action on Climate Change contested the Conservative government’s 2022 green light for a coking coal mine in northwest England. The government halted its defense after a Supreme Court ruling instructed authorities to consider the impact of burning fossil fuels in their decisions.

This landmark ruling could set a precedent globally, according to Friends of the Earth, with similar challenges against fossil fuel projects in other countries. Developer West Cumbria Mining argued that the mine, planned for coking coal production for steel manufacturing, would be environmentally friendly.

Despite the developer’s claims, Judge David Holgate concluded that the mine’s impact on greenhouse gas emissions was underestimated. The company is assessing the court’s decision.