UK coal plans are sparking intense global opposition

Posted by Samia Robbins on March 01, 2009
Energy, UK

As UK Minister for Energy, Ed Milliband announces new plans to build a coal fuelled power station in the UK, global protesters are calling the government a “climate criminal”, accusing the new plans to be a death trap for the planet.

A joint protest from over 40 deveoping countries, are challenging Ed Millibands plans, and strongly advising him that these actions will result in the UK’s weakening position in international climate change negotiations, thus damaging the reputation and position that the UK has.  Protesters believe that the UK will not be in a position to persuade developing economies to cut their emissions.

The proposed plant is the dirtiest of fossil fuels, and according to the Clean Air Task Force (CATF) based in the USA, each new conventional coal plant threatens to create a 60-year stream of new carbon dioxide, as well as a multi-decade stream of toxic waste.  Coal-fired electric generating plants are the USA’s largest industrial source of harmful air pollution.   From lung damage to asthma attacks to acid rain, haze, and global warming, no economic sector has a greater impact on our environment.  

On th flip side, the coal industry is facing significant industry challenges; demand is falling as global industry, including demand from China in particular has fallen; material costs are uncertain and over the future hangs the worrying spectre of expensive and uncertain carbon capture and storage, international carbon markets and whatever else an anxious world may decide to do about climate change.

For some, the coal plant presents a new industry opportunity, but for others, this is a stark reality of future doom and gloom, and a highlight of how UK government has lost significant support from the public, environmental organisations and its political counterparts.  Surely the governments financial backing of various ‘green refurb’s', the availability of £9 million of funds for the generation of new, micro generation technologies are all geared towards developing clean teachnologies and lowering emissions?  It must be questioned, where or if this new plant fits in to the UKs long term strategic plan.

The 27 groups of protestors to the UK plans, including campaigners from India, Brazil, Indonesia, the Philippines and Uganda, say they are “alarmed” that the UK government is considering  allowing new coal plants to be built, including one at Kingsnorth in Kent.   They blame emissions from rich countries for causing global warming and the “increased  floods, droughts, sea-levels and disease” that threaten the livelihoods of “hundreds of millions of people” (Source: The Observer)

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Comments

  • Milan

    Admirably, the British government has chosen to accept a tough target for emissions reductions by 2050: pledging to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050. They are right to stress how commitment to climate change mitigation cannot falter in difficult economic times.

    Unfortunately, two major contradictions continue to exist in British policy: a continued intention to add extra runways to its busy airports, and the proposal to add two new 800 MW supercritical coal-fired power units to the Kingsnorth Power Station. We have reached the point where we must simply refuse to allow coal power plants that do not capture and store their emissions to be built in developed countries.

    March 06 2009
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    • clean coal plant

      The cost of energy on Maui is the highest in the nation. Businesses transfer this cost on to goods and services.

      March 04 2009
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      • Avatar of Nyla Sarwar
        Nyla Sarwar

        There is the issue of ‘lock-in’ once investments in coal plants get the go-ahead, although many argue that in order to ensure medium to long term energy security coal will always need to be part of the mix. In this case, Stern and others have recommended that at the very least CCS must be integrated into coal plants. However, with the uncertainties hanging over this unproven method, is it wise to continue along a polluting path?

        I would argue that a tailpipe solution such as CCS may provide a temporary fix but in now way addresses the problem. We should instead be investing in new infrastructure which is supportive of the changes needed to ensure a reliable renewable electricity supply. This is a huge challenge as it is, and the UK Committee on Climate Change has recommended a target to decarbonise UK electricity supply by 2030s – this will be made even more difficult by further investing in coal plants.

        March 03 2009
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