MORE than 450 church leaders have signed an open letter calling on the government to reverse the decision to open a new coal mine near Whitehaven.

The new mine, which would be Britain’s first in more than 30 years, was given the green light earlier in December after a series of delays.

It is set to provide 'hundreds' of jobs in the area and a boost to the UK steel industry, according to the government and local supporters.

But the decision has been criticised by the Labour Party and environmental campaigners who say the new coal mine threatens Britain’s global position as leaders in the fight against climate change.

Signatories of the letter include the Church of England’s lead bishop on the environment, the Bishop of Norwich, Rt Revd Graham Usher, former archbishop of Canterbury, Rt Revd Rowan Williams, the Roman Catholic’s environmental lead bishop and the leaders of the Salvation Army and the Quakers in the UK.

The letter, which was addressed to both Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and levelling up secretary, Michael Gove, said: “The Government is supporting a dying industry instead of securing sustainable green jobs for the long term.

“Every pound of investment in renewables creates three times more jobs than in the fossil fuel industry.

“Coal from this mine will continue to heat up the planet, pollute the atmosphere and most severely impact those in the world’s poorest countries who have done the least to cause the climate crisis.”

The letter also quotes Mr Gove himself during a lecture he gave in 2018.

Mr Gove said: “Christians are called to remember their place in creation and the vast web of life it created and their responsibility to protect and defend it.”

The letter urges the government to “practice what Mr Gove preached”.

The letter was coordinated by the lead of the Young Christian Climate Network, Dr Chris Manktelow, who said: “As young people who want a better future for everyone living on this plant, we were deeply concerned about the approval.

“We hope that the government will listen to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor and consider the consequences.”

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