'Both climate vandalism and economic incompetence': The green economy reacts to Cumbria coal mine approval

James Murray
clock • 12 min read
'Both climate vandalism and economic incompetence': The green economy reacts to Cumbria coal mine approval

Politicians, business leaders, and economists unite in condemnation of the government's decision to approve the first new UK coal mine in 30 years

Late yesterday afternoon, the government finally approved the controversial plans for a new coal mine in Cumbria paving the way for the first new coal mine in the UK in 30 years. In his decision, Levelling...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

James Murray
Author spotlight

James Murray

View profile
More from James Murray

Climate co-operation is in every nation's self-interest

Government hits back at Tony Blair Institute call to ditch clean power targets

More on Infrastructure

Water resilience is Britain's next infrastructure test
Infrastructure

Water resilience is Britain's next infrastructure test

As intensifying flooding and drought across the UK shows, there is no overnight fix for water resilience - but the government's Water White Paper shows real ambition, writes Labour MP Steve Race

Steve Race MP
clock 17 February 2026 • 3 min read
The EU is borrowing from the UK's grid playbook - but should it?
Infrastructure

The EU is borrowing from the UK's grid playbook - but should it?

Moving too quickly to build out the energy grid without fully integrating domestic flexibility risks locking in a higher-cost future for consumers, warns Amber Woodward from the Centre for Net Zero

Amber Woodward, Centre for Net Zero
clock 10 February 2026 • 4 min read
Study: Grid investment could unlock £194bn of economic benefits
Infrastructure

Study: Grid investment could unlock £194bn of economic benefits

'Supercharged’ grid investment programme would enable the clean energy transition and ensure infrastructure keeps pace with rising demand for power, Arup claims

Stuart Stone
Stuart Stone
clock 10 February 2026 • 3 min read