High Court Rules Against Britain’s New Deep Coal Mine

London’s High Court ruled that Britain's first new deep coal mine in decades was unlawfully approved. Environmental campaigners argued that the approval overlooked the emissions from burning fossil fuels. This landmark decision could impact global fossil fuel projects facing similar challenges.

London's High Court has ruled that the approval of Britain's first new deep coal mine in decades was unlawful, responding to a legal challenge from environmental groups.

Friends of the Earth and South Lakeland Action on Climate Change contested the Conservative government's 2022 approval of a coking coal mine in northwest England. The UK abandoned its defense after a Supreme Court ruling mandated that planning authorities must consider emissions from burning fossil fuels in approval decisions.

This ruling marks the first application of the Supreme Court's decision, with potential global implications for similar fossil fuel projects. Developer West Cumbria Mining, which argued that the mine would achieve 'net zero' emissions, stated that they will review the judgment's implications.

(With inputs from agencies.)