Responding to the news that new coal mining licences will be banned by the government, Greenpeace UK’s policy director, Doug Parr, said:

“The canary stopped singing a long time ago, as coal’s days have been numbered for some time. But bringing a definitive end to new mining in the UK is a momentous move from the government and should be celebrated. Now, given the escalating floods, hurricanes and heatwaves across the world as the climate crisis escalates, it must get on with banning new oil and gas development. Proper economic security lies with becoming a world leader in the green technology transition not trading of fossil fuels of the past.”