REACTION: Oxfam response to the approval of the Whitehaven coal mine

Published on

In response to the Government’s decision to approve plans for the Whitehaven mine, the UK's first new coal mine in 30 years, Oxfam’s Climate Change Policy Advisor, Lyndsay Walsh, said:

“Today's decision is a complete betrayal of the government’s commitment to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

“Increasing production of the dirtiest fossil fuel as the escalating climate emergency pushes millions of people deeper into hunger and poverty cannot be justified.

“The approval of the Whitehaven coal mine crushes the UK’s climate credibility only a month after the COP27 summit where the Prime Minister pledged to make the UK a clean energy superpower and urged world leaders not to backslide on commitments made to reduce emissions. It is clearly a case of 'do as I say, not as I do'.”

Ends

Press contact

For comments, interviews, or information please contact the Oxfam GB Media Team: