One of the recognition’s worldwide is that if we are to avoid the worst of global warming the majority of carbon left in the earth must remain there. This particularly applies to coal.
However there is a conflicting view amongst many groups stating that we must get our money’s worth out of all mine’s that are already in progress.
The mine would be extended to remove an extra 550000 tons of coal.
I should note that it is the Durham County Council that has made this decision not the national government. However given the national government decision to phase out the use of coal by 2025.
It should be noted that Durham County Council actually refused the licence 3 times and only granted is on appeal. If sense saw them rejected three times why on earth would they reverse their position where the same company simply complaints about the outcome.
The company argues that by not mining here we would simply increase our carbon footprint, as we would consume the same amount of coal that would also have to pay the carbon price of importing that coal from wherever it has been mined. While this is true it suggests that the UK will continue to use coal regardless of any decisions made, however in actuality mining the coal elsewhere and then having to import it is likely to have a significant financial input which would likely push people faster to stop using coal. A carbon tax would have the same impact without adding further carbon emissions, however either way if the mine was shut, the cost of coal with rise and have the same impact has the government putting a significant tax on coal.