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Policy advocacy

We advocate for policy that secures the managed phase out of coal from UK industries, and end the UK's support for global coal extraction and use. Westminster has devolved some powers to Scotland and Wales, which means we work with the Welsh, Scottish, and UK parliaments to secure the policies we need to lock out coal. This is essential to protect our global climate, and discourage a swing back to coal in response to geopolitical events.

UK Government

We worked tirelessly to increase the ambitions of major political parties ahead of the UK General Election, leading to five of the those parties declaring policy commitments to rule out any new coal mining across the UK. We're now campaigning for the new UK Government to enshrine this commitment  within planning and energy policy.

Welsh Government

We've been engaging with the Welsh Government and Senedd on strengthening its coal policies. Once it was ahead of the UK and Scottish Governments, but now it is increasingly being left behind.

Scottish Government

We inputted to the Scottish Government ahead of its planning consultation, contributing to its de facto coal mining ban.

ACTIONS & NEWS

Cross-party support at Senedd drop-in session to act on coal legacy

On July 1st, 2025, CAN organised drop-in session at the Senedd, spotlighting the urgent need for action on Wales’ coal legacy issues. The event saw strong cross-party engagement, with Members of the Senedd (MSs)…

Countering fake news in the Senedd

We’re actively setting the record straight when fake news about coal is spread through public figures, social media, or the press. The rise of populist politics and politicians tend to drive statements that are don’t entirely match the evidence, but may win them some votes…

360 exploration of Ffos-y-fran opencast coal mine

Explore the landscape via the images below, drag around the viewpoints and go full-screen for the immersive experience. This is what the 58,000 residents of Merthyr Tydfil face every day…and with a new plan by mining company, Merthyr (South Wales) Ltd, to evade its responsibility to restore…

Committee takes forward CAN’s key recommendations

In February, CAN gave oral testimony to the Climate Change, Energy, and Infrastructure Committee (CCEIC) on the Disused Mine and Quarry Tips (Wales) Bill…

Westminster: our evidence on Wales’ coal legacy

Coal Action Network was invited to attend Westminster where we gave evidence to the Welsh Affairs Committee in their inquiry about the environmental and economic legacy of Wales’ industrial past, alongside Friends of the Earth Cymru. This inquiry was opened in…

We’re back in the Senedd giving oral evidence

We were invited for the second time to give oral evidence to the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee of the Welsh Parliament (Senedd) on 05th February 2025. We shared the panel with Haf, Director of FOE Cymru, to provide our opinion on the weaknesses, strengths…

UK Government: is the left hand speaking to the right hand?

The UK Government launched a consultation on a limited review of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) for 8 weeks from 30 July to 24 September 2024. The NPPF is an influential document that shapes planning decisions and priorities across England. It is periodically updated by the Government, following a public consultation…

Disused Mine and Quarry Tips (Wales) Bill

The Disused Mine and Quarry Tips (Wales) Bill (‘the Bill’) was prompted by a series of coal tip landslides that occurred in Wales following storms’ Ciara and Dennis in 2020, including a major landslide of a disused coal tip in Tylorstown…

UK Government makes it official: coal mining no more

The UK Government has laid a Written Ministerial Statement confirming that it will introduce legislation to “restrict the future licensing of new coal mines”, by amending the Coal Industry Act 1994, “when Parliamentary time allows”. The UK Government’s press release is entitled “New coal mining licences will be banned”. Here at Coal Action Network, we thinks it’s great that the UK Government is following…

Welsh Government & Local Council respond to CCEIC’s recommendations

In May 2023, Coal Action Network wrote to the Climate Change, Energy, and Infrastructure Committee (CCEIC) of the Welsh Senedd, informing the Committee of the ongoing illegal coal mining at Ffos-y-fran in Merthyr Tydfil, and the Council and Welsh Government’s refusal to use their enforcement powers to prevent the daily extraction of over 1,000 tonnes of coal…

The end of coal power in the UK – how we got here, what’s still needed?

The end of coal power in the UK – how we got here, what’s still needed? Smoke filled the sky across the industrial parts of the UK, as coal powered the industrial revolution. First coal brought prosperity and progress, but over decades the smoke stacks…

Take action – let planners say no to new coal mining

Take action – let planners say no to new coal mining TAKE ACTION The public consultation window for the National Policy and Planning Framework represents the first opportunity since the new UK Government was formed to stop any new coal mine application winning planning permission…

Senedd Committee reports ‘Missed Opportunities’ in Restoring Nature at Opencast Coal Mines in Wales

The Senedd’s Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (CCEIC) has released a critical report on the management of opencast coal mining in Wales, particularly focusing on Ffos-y-Fran, one of the last opencast…

UK election 2024: Parties line up to ban more coal mining

The UK’s last coal-fired power station closes this year, and last year is confirmed the hottest year on record. We’re pleased that the Labour Party has listened to our arguments, along with the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, and Plaid Cymru which have also ruled out any new coal mining…

Email your election candidate

Coal Action Network asked Who will stop coal? last weekend in Whitehaven, West Cumbria. At the site of the proposed coal mine, members of the local community and supporters gathered to ensure that the question of the mine is being put to election candidates. Now we need you to crank up the pressure and make sure all election candidates across the UK faces this question as they could decide the fate of the coal mine if elected…

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