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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 across England. This sweeping change would go a long way to ruling out any new coal mines in the country.

BACKGROUND

For the last year we have been working behind the scenes to persuade political parties to commit to banning new coal mines in the UK. Thanks to our work, 5 major parties in Parliament committed to this in their manifestos, including the new UK Government.

One of the first actions the new Government is taking is to reform the National Planning Policy Framework. Their main focus is on building more houses and renewable energy projects. But one part of the NPPF advises local planning authorities on whether they should grant permission to applications for more coal extraction. Currently, the guidance is vague which and open to expensive legal challenge from mining companies which can make planners wary to refusing permission to new coal mine applications.

We know new coal extraction must be stopped, and we want the UK Government to ensure that happens in this reform by providing the clear direction planners need to confidently say NO to new coal mine applications.

The Government is running an open consultation on their proposed reforms until September 24th. The more folks who write in, the harder it'll be for the UK Government to ignore your collective call to draw the line in the sand right here, right now. Help us end coal mining in England by using our form to respond.

Published: 13. 09. 2024

Global Week of Action: Putting Insurance Industry in the Hot Seat

The insurance industry found itself in the spotlight last week as a Global Week of Action blossomed across the world. From February 27th to March 3rd 2024, a wave of protests, both online and in the streets, swept through the doors of insurance giants, demanding accountability over their support for polluters and decisive action on climate change.

Unprecedented Mobilisation

Never before have these companies faced such pressure to clean their act up and insure our future, not fossil fuels. The Week of Action saw hundreds of thousands of people participating in online campaigns, while thousands more engaged in creative protests across 31 countries, spanning 5 continents. In total, over 100 events occurred worldwide, making it the largest ever coordinated campaign aimed at persuading the insurance industry to do the right thing.

Raising Awareness, Igniting Change

The resounding message echoed by this global movement was clear: insurers can no longer hide their dirty deals with fossil fuel companies. As awareness grows around the crucial role insurers must play in solving the climate crisis, boardrooms and corner offices are abuzz with serious discussions about continued insurance coverage for polluting projects.

Coal Action Network combined forces with Extinction Rebellion, Stop EACOP and Tipping Point to hold the City of London to account. Here are the top picks from the Global Week of Action:

Sit-Ins at 5 Insurance Companies’ Offices

The week of action was opened on 27th February with sit-ins at 5 offices: Tokio Marine, Probitas, Talbot, Travellers and Zurich. Activists held banners reading “Don’t Insure EACOP” and “Don’t Insure West Cumbria Coal”.

Lloyd’s of London Human Chain

Protesters joined arms around the whole of the iconic Lloyd’s of London building. The human chain lasted many hours, supported by beats from the samba band and performance from the ‘Discobedience’ dance group. There were speeches by Cumbrian activists and our own Will Attenborough from Coal Action Network.

Pub Charm-Offensive

Groups of friendly creatives, including Clowns and Crude Oil Mechanicals, visited the favourite watering holes of City workers at the Leadenhall Market, engaging insurance workers in discussion about the dangers of insuring new oil, coal and gas. Accompanied by the samba band, they gave out ‘Insure Our Future’ branded coasters.

Palestine Solidarity = Climate Justice

A coalition of 12 climate justice groups came together in a moment of solidarity with the people of Palestine. A border wall was erected in front of the AXA building in London, to highlight the company’s continued investment in Israeli banks that fund an apartheid system and occupation of the West Bank. The coalition also demanded that AXA, as the 6th biggest fossil fuel insurer in the world, stops insuring all new oil, gas and coal expansion.

Actions across the country

🔥 From Glasgow to Manchester, Birmingham to Brighton – local groups across the UK took to the streets to hold big insurers to account; including Zurich, Hiscox, Tokio Marine, AIG, Chubb, M S Amlin, QBE and AXA.

🌪️ Braving wild weather with courage and creativity actions included blockades, rallies, marches, occupations, letters, outreach and street theatre!

In Manchester, northern activists from a variety of climate action groups came together for a rally.

In Bristol rebels and Just Stop Oil activists held the roof of Tokio Marine overnight for 30hrs!

Activists from North East & Cumbria met at the AXA Insurance office in Middlesbrough with a coffin and banners for a die in with shrouds. Offices of AIG in Glasgow were occupied while a 100 others marched with Oil Slick performers, a bagpiper, and a huge "carbon bomb" to the Hiscox office nearby.

A Wake-Up Call for the Industry

The Insurance Global Week of Action served as a wake-up call for an industry that has long operated in the shadows. Today, more people than ever before are acutely aware of the pivotal role insurers must play in transitioning towards a safe and healthy future. The global outcry has made it impossible for insurance companies to turn a blind eye to the mounting damage to our communities and our planet, caused by their enabling of polluters and new fossil fuels.

As the dust settles from this unprecedented mobilization, one thing is certain: the insurance industry can no longer afford to ignore the demands of a global movement that is determined to persuade them to do the right thing: insure our future, not fossil fuels.

Our demands are:

  1. Stop insuring fossil fuels

Immediately cease insuring new and expanded coal, oil, and gas projects and the companies developing them.

  1. Respect human rights

Immediately adopt robust policies to ensure that clients fully respect all human rights, including Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) of impacted communities.

  1. Support a just transition

Play an active role in the just transition by increasing support to clean energy projects by, and for, communities most impacted by climate change and facing energy access crisis.

Energy Bill - cut out coal!

The journey so far...

FIRST... Coal mining ban proposed by House of Lords

With a margin of 3 votes (197 for vs 194 against) in the House of Lords on 17th April 2023, Lord Teverson amended the Energy Bill to include a new clause on the 'prohibition of new coal mines' (a ban on the Coal Authority licencing any new coal mining in the UK). This wouldn't stop any coal mines already licenced, and would only apply 6 months after the bill had been passed - but it would cut off the pipeline of new coal mine applications. Just one Conservative Lord voted for this amendment - Lord Deben, Chairman of the UK's independent Committee on Climate Change.

Lord Teverson referred to the Whitehaven coal mine, approved in December 2022, when proposing the amendment, saying "If that happens once, it can happen again - that is why this amendment is so important," he said. He had previously believed a ban was not necessary because it was "totally and absolutely obvious" that building a new coal mine "would be a really stupid thing for a country to do".

THEN... Coal mining ban stripped out by UK Government

Back in the House of Commons, the UK Government Ministers stripped out the amendment banning new coal mines at the Committee-stage, before the revised Energy Bill could be debated and voted on in the House of Commons. MP Caroline Lucas said the Government's approach was "well and truly stuck in the last century...after endlessly repeating the importance of no new coal at COP26, its words have proved to be meaningless". Shadow energy secretary Ed Miliband had said Labour would back the ban.

Opposing the amendment, minister Lord Callanan said the government was committed to phasing out coal but argued that an outright ban could cause a "severe weakening of our security of supply".

NOW... Coal mining ban re-proposed by MPs Chris Skidmore & Wera Hobhouse

In the report stage, Conservative MP Chris Skidmore and Libdem MP Wera Hobhouse have attempted to re-introduce the coal mine ban by tabling similar wording as Lord Teverson's amendment to be put back into the Energy Bill (clause N2). MP Chris Skidmore also seeks to strengthen the UK Government's earler commitment to phase out coal being used to generate energy by tabling another clause (N3) - a prohibition of energy production from coal by 1 January 2025. This would change put the UK Government's policy commitment into legally-binding legislation, making it much harder for this or successive Governments to back-track on that commitment.

What needs to go into the Energy Bill

Amongst other important ammendments, the wording of the two amendments your MP needs to support are:

NC2 Tabled by: Chris Skidmore & Wera Hobhouse
To move the following Clause—“Prohibition of new coal mines
(1) Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must by regulations prohibit the opening of new coal mines and the licensing of new coal mines by the Coal Authority or its successors.
(2) Regulations under this section are subject to the affirmative procedure.”

NC3 Tabled by: Chris Skidmore

To move the following Clause—“Prohibition of energy production from coal
(1) The Secretary of State must by regulations provide for the UK to cease energy production from coal from 1 January 2025.
(2) Regulations under this section may amend primary legislation (including this Act).”

Take action

The report stage for the Energy Bill is currently scheduled for Tue 5th September 2023, the day after the House of Commons returns from summer recess, at which point MPs will debate the various amendments tabled to the Energy Bill. The amendment will almost certainly be debated, however there’s no guarantee that it will be pushed to a vote – this depends on a range of different factors, including MPs’ priorities and whether the amendment is selected by the Speaker for a vote.

THE ASK: write to your MP, asking them to speak in favour of amendment NC2 and NC3 during the debate, and to vote for it, if it is "pushed to a division".

Senior Conservative Minister already admitted need for reform

We are now able to reveal correspondence between Welsh Minister for Climate Change, MS Julie James, and then UK Government Minister Minister of State for Energy, Clean Growth
and Climate Change, MP Greg Hands. In a letter dated 07 January 2022, Minister Greg Hands states:

"I do agree that the Coal Authority’s statutory duty to promote an economically viable coal industry, as set out in the Coal Industry Act 1994, is at odds with our climate leadership ambitions and policies on coal so we are looking at measures to review that duty. I understand our officials have agreed to meet to share our thinking on a future licencing regime that reflects our different administrations net zero and climate change goals."

The amendment(s) proposed by MP Chris Skidmore (and Wera Hobhouse) would achieve what Greg Hands admits is necessary to meet the Government's climate commitments. So why did the UK Government remove Lord Teverson's amendment to achieve the same? What has the UK Goverment done to change the "future licencing regime"?

Senior Welsh Labour Minister agrees on need for reform

Welsh Labour Minister for Climate Change in the Welsh Government Julie James wrote to then Secretary of State Department of Business, Energy & industrial Strategy Kwasi Kwarteng in the UK Government on 26 October 2021, stating:

"...we consider the statutory duty of the Coal Authority to develop and maintain a viable coal extraction industry must be removed if we are to achieve our policy ambitions." adding "I seek to understand how the [Coal Industry] Act will be amended to reflect the need for the Coal Authority to consider climate policy in its decisions". Julie James is looking for reform rather than dissolving the Coal Authority, saying "....the Coal Authority has an important role to play in rapidly winding down remaining mining operations and delivering long-term environmental protection. In doing so, the Coal Authority has an important role in ensuring those communities affected by the legacy of coal mining receive a just transition."

Welsh Labour clearly indicate the need to reform the Coal Authority in a way that would stop new coal mine applications being licenced and support existing operations winding down, with a just transition for workers involved.

Background

The need for law change: This year, Coal Action Network took the Coal Authority to the Cardiff Courts in a judicial review challenging the Coal Authority's insistence that it cannot consider matters such as climate change in determining whether to award a coal mining licence. The judge agreed with the Coal Authority, which confirms that legislative reform of the Coal Authority is needed to bring its licencing function in line with climate commitments - such as that proposed in amendment NC2 to the Energy Bill.

Time's running out: Since senior UK and Welsh Government Ministers admitted the need to cut off the pipeline of new coal mining applications, both the UK and the planet experienced its hottest ever days (2022 & 2023), June 2023 was the UK's hottest ever, and July 2023 was confirmed the hottest month worldwide since records began, and this year the world has been rocked by wild-fires, flooding, and storms. So the sense of urgency to ban coal mining and use has become even stronger.

Security of supply concerns: Alongside increasing this escalating urgency, TATA Port Talbot steelworks announcing it will imminently transition to recycling steel or else face closure, and British Steel reporting it will close its coke ovens. A credible home insulation plan would remove any energy security issues for keeping warm this - and future - winters, rather than spending more of my tax money propping up dirty coal power stations again. These are the only significant consumers of coal remaining in the UK so there is no energy security case to be made for continuing to mine coal in the UK.

Published: 18.08.2023 Updated: 22.08.2023

Campaigns on UK coal mines

UK & global coal mining & use

Object to the application to expand the Glan Lash opencast coal mine

Take action!

Completing our contact form sends your message to all 20 Councillors on the Carmarthenshire Planning Committee, Council, and us.

Will Councillors reject the application to expand and extend the Glan Lash opencast coal mine, learning from the huge challenges that Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council is having with the illegal Ffos-y-fran opencast coal mine?

Put into your own words why you want Carmarthenshire Planning Committee to reject the application - here's some points you might choose to include:

  • The coal operator claims they'll supply some of the coal to 'non-burn' uses like brick colourant...but that's dictated by market conditions that are changeable, and as soon as planning permission is granted, the coal operator is free to supply to whoever pays the most for this coal.
  • The coal operator claims the coal is needed for steelworks but the biggest steelworks in the UK needs to rapidly cut coal out of its production.
  • It goes against the Welsh Government's various climate commitments and policies against continued coal extraction.
  • Some key statistics on the coal mine expansion application.

Email your Planning Committee Councillors!

Fields marked with * are required

Why do you want Councillors to reject the Glan Lash extension?
Incl. your postcode if you're from Carmarthenshire, it gives your email more weight!

Cymerwch weithred!

Wrth gwbhau ein ffurflen cyswllt mae eich neges yn cael ei anfon i bob un o’r 20 Cynghorydd ar y Pwyllgor Cynllunio Sir Gâr, Cyngor, a ni.

Bydd y Cynghoryddion yn gwrthod y gais i ddatblygu ac ymestyn y pwll glo cast agored Glan Lash, dysgu o’r sialensau anferth mae Cyngor Bro Sir Merthyr Tydfil yn cael gyda’r pwll glo cast agored anghyfreithlon Ffos-y-Fran?

Rhowch yng ngheiriau eich hyn pam yr ydych chi eisiau i Pwyllgor Cynllunio Sir Gâr i wrthod y gais - dyma rhai pwyntiau gallwch ddewis i gynnwys:

  • Mae’r gweithredydd glo yn dweud bydde nhw’n cyflenwi rhai o’r glo i ddefnyddwyr ‘dim-llosg’ fel lliwydd bric…ond mae hynnu’n cael ei arddweud gan cyflwr marchnad sydd yn gally newid, ac mor gynted a mae caniatâd cynllunio yn cael ei rhoi, mae’r gweithredydd glo gyda’r hawl i gyflenwi pwy bynnag sydd yn rhoi y mwyaf o arian am y glo yma.
  • Mae’r gweithredydd glo yn dweud bod y glo yn angenrheidiol ar gyfer gwaith dur ond mae’r gwaith dur mwyaf yn y DU angen torri glo allan o’i cynyrch yn gyflym.
  • Mae’n mynd yn erbyn ymrwymiadau hinsawdd a polisiau yn erbyn echdynnu glo parheus Llywodraeth Cymru.
  • Mae rhai ysyadegau allweddol ar y gais i ddatblygiad y pwll glo.

E-bostwch aelodau o’r Pwyllgor Cynllunio!

Mae meysydd wedi’i marcio â * yn ofynnol

Pan ydych chi eisiau Cyngorwyr i wrthod yr estyniad i Glan Lash?
Cynnwys eich côd os ydych o Sir Gâr, mae’n rhoi mwy o bwysau i’ch e-bost!
Published: 03/08/2023

The IPCC AR6 Report

What do you do when "our world needs climate action on all fronts - everything, everywhere, all at once"…?

In March, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the body of the world's leading climate scientists, released the last instalment of their sixth assessment report (AR6). This delivered a "final warning" – the comprehensive review of the climate crisis took hundreds of scientists eight years to compile and runs to thousands of pages, but boiled down to one message: act now, or it will be too late.

Yet, according to the report, we still have hope of staying within 1.5°C. Hoesung Lee, the chair of the IPCC, said: “This synthesis report underscores the urgency of taking more ambitious action and shows that, if we act now, we can still secure a livable sustainable future for all.”

FIVE ACTIONS you can take TODAY based on the report's findings

Together, as part of this global movement, we need to keep the pressure on the governments, financiers, insurers, and fossil fuel companies that are pushing us deeper into climate crisis, putting profits above people and our planet. We've compiled five actions you can take with us, based on the report's findings and recommendations.

"No New Coal"

According to the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, “no new coal and the phasing out of coal by 2030 in OECD countries” is step #1 to accelerate climate action.

Yet Wales is about to decide whether to expand the UK's biggest opencast coal mine, by four years and 2 million tonnes of coal. Sign our petition to call on the Welsh Government to stop this from going ahead: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/don-t-expand-uk-s-biggest-opencast-coal-mine.

"Partial pledges won't cut it"

The reports states there will be dire consequences if countries scrap carbon pledges. That’s exactly what the Whitehaven coal mine would do, which was approved by the UK government last December. 

It's still possible to stop the mine, and our friends at South Lakes Action on Climate Change want to do – but we need your help. Donate to help them mount a Judicial Review against Whitehaven coal mine in Cumbria: https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/challenge-the-cumbria-coal-mine/.

"End all international public and private funding of coal"

Guterres points to the backers of fossil fuel companies. Adani’s Carmichael coal mine can only be financed because Lloyd's of London syndicate Probitas 1492 insures it. No insurance = no coal mine.

Sign up to tell Probitas staff to drop this project: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/take-regular-action-to-stop-adani.

"Cease all licensing or funding for new oil & gas"

Insurers listen up: oil&gas shouldn’t be funded or licensed…so don’t insure it! Set to be the world’s biggest heated oil pipeline, EACOP must be stopped.

Take regular action emailing insurance staff to warn them not to insure EACOP: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/take-regular-action-to-stopeacop-2/.

"It will take a quantum leap in climate action"

As we said, the report isn't without hope: “as it shows, the 1.5-degree limit is achievable. But it will take a quantum leap in climate action.”

If you want to get inspired, we recommend watching FINITE: The Climate of Change, an award-winning feature documentary about people standing up against the fossil fuel industry. Check out their Twitter for details of any upcoming screenings: https://twitter.com/finitedoc. Or you can watch FINITE online now via WOWFilm. Only available for 200 views, over half have gone already, so make sure not to miss it! The price is “pay what you feel. If you can, please donate so they can keep making films.

 

Thousands tell Probitas: Break up with Adani

A Valentines surprise from the #StopAdani movement

Today we delivered Coedie's message and thousands others from around the world in the form of 6ft tall talking valentines cards, to all three of Probitas 1492's UK offices: Lloyds of London, Lime Street (London), and Manchester.

We want to make sure they can't ignore indigenous communities, and people all over the planet who will be impacted by this climate bomb. Check out some pictures from our action, your messages, and how to get involved in keeping the pressure on Probitas.

Will you ramp up the pressure on Probitas?

We need to show Probitas that the global movement against Adani won’t let them get away with their involvement. Will you join us and ramp up the pressure we’re placing on them?

We're asking our supporters to sign up to take regular action, emailing staff at Probitas over their companies role in enabling this carbon bomb. We'll be sending you new contact details at every few days – no two people will be receiving the same staff to contact. This tactic means that together we can contact more staff, and be as effective as possible in turning up the heat. Let's convince them to stop insuring climate breakdown.

As always, we'll be providing you with example emails to use & help along the way.

💥 Fill in this form to sign up & start contacting Probitas staff straight away!

When we’ve taken action together, the #StopAdani movement has won against insurers and brokers again and again - now the industry knows it's one of the most controversial projects in the world. We need to make sure this climate-wrecking project has nowhere left to go.

Let’s make sure Probitas knows what it’s getting into: send your message today.

Twitter-Storm against Cumbria coking coal mine

Deiseb: Llywodraeth Cymru Peidiwch ag ehangu pwll glo brig mwyaf y DU

See our English language version of this webpage.

Mae Cymru ar fin penderfynu a ddylid ehangu pwll glo brig mwyaf y DU gan bron i 4 blynedd a 2 filiwn tunnell o lo. Bydd hyn yn gyrru newid hinsawdd gan bron i 6 miliwn tunnell o CO2 a 16,000 tunnell o fethan.

Mae pwll glo Ffos-y-fran ym Merthyr Tudful sy’n chwalu’r hinsawdd yn echdynnu hyd at 50,000 tunnell o lo bob mis – sef glo y dyfarnodd Llys Cyfiawnder Ewrop ei fod yn creu gormod o lygredd i’w losgi yn hen orsaf bŵer Aberddawan, ac sydd bellach yn cael ei losgi’n bennaf mewn gwaith dur. Mae hyn yn rhwymo gwaith dur TATA i fod yr 2il safle mwyaf llygredig yn y DU!

Sign the petition now

Digon yw digon!

Mae deisebwyr yn mynnu bod Llywodraeth Cymru:

  1. yn cymryd drosodd y cyfrifoldeb am benderfynu, os bydd y Cyngor lleol yn ystyried rhoi caniatâd cynllunio i ehangu pwll glo brig Ffos-y-fran.
  2. yn gweithredu ar wyddoniaeth hinsawdd, yn gwrando ar drigolion lleol, ac yn dilyn ei chyfreithiau a’i pholisïau ei hun megis Deddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau’r Dyfodol.
  3. yn gwrthod yn gyflym ehangu pwll glo brig mwyaf y DU, yn cynnwys cynllun peilot Incwm Sylfaenol Cyffredinol y gweithwyr, ac yn buddsoddi mewn swyddi sydd â dyfodol.

Pam mae hyn yn bwysig?

Pan roddwyd caniatâd gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn 2005, cafodd y gymuned leol ym Merthyr Tudful, a oedd wedi brwydro’n ffyrnig yn erbyn y cynnig, addewid y byddai mwyngloddio’n dod i ben ar ôl 15 mlynedd, ar 6ed Medi 2022 ac y byddai’r gwaith o adfer y tir wedi’i gwblhau ychydig flynyddoedd yn ddiweddarach. Ond adroddir nad yw mwyngloddio glo wedi dod i ben, gan ddifetha’r heddwch hir-ddisgwyliedig i’r gymuned leol sy’n gallu gweld a chlywed y pwll glo o’u cartrefi. Ac yn awr mae'r cwmni mwyngloddio wedi gwneud cais i ehangu'r pwll glo am 9 mis, ac wedi dweud y bydd yn ceisio am 3 blynedd arall o gloddio am lo, (a phwy a ŵyr beth y tu hwnt i hynny...?).

Bydd hyn nid yn unig yn hybu newid yn yr hinsawdd gan bron i 6 miliwn tunnell o CO2 a 16,000 tunnell o fethan, ond hefyd yn achosi dioddefaint i’r trigolion cyfagos trwy’r ffrwydradau pellach, llygredd sŵn a llwch. Ar ben hyn, bydd y gwaith adfer hir-ddisgwyliedig ar y tir yn cael ei wthio yn ôl gan flynyddoedd, gyda phryderon na fydd byth yn digwydd.

Sut y cyflwynir y ddeiseb

Bydd y ddeiseb hon yn cael ei chyflwyno i Julie James, Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd Cymru.

Sign the petition now

Published: 23/11/22

Sign this petition to stop the expansion of UK’s biggest opencast coal mine

See our Welsh language version of this webpage.

Wales is about to decide whether to expand the UK’s largest opencast coal mine by nearly 4 years, emitting almost 6 million tonnes of CO2, and 16,000 tonnes of methane from the coal mine itself.

The climate-trashing Ffos-y-fran coal mine in Merthyr Tydfil extracts up to 50,000 tonnes of coal every month – coal that the European Court of Justice ruled was too polluting to be burned in the old Aberthaw power station, and is now burned mainly at steelworks. This locks TATA steelworks into being the UK’s 2nd most polluting site!

Sign the petition now

Enough is enough!

We demand that the Welsh Government:

  1. calls in the decision if the local Council considers granting planning permission to expand the Ffos-y-fran opencast coal mine.
  2. acts on climate science, listens to local residents, and follows its own laws and policies such as the Future Generations Act.
  3. swiftly rejects expanding the UK’s largest opencast coal mine, includes workersa Universal Basic Income pilot, and invests in jobs with a future.

When permission was granted by the Welsh Government in 2005, the local community in Merthyr Tydfil, who had fought the proposal fiercely, were promised that mining would end after 15 years, in September 2022 and that restoration of the land would be complete by the end of the following year. Yet it’s reported that coal mining hasn’t stopped, ruining the long-awaited peace for the local community who can see and hear the coal mine from their homes. And now the mining company has applied to expand the coal mine by 9 months, and has said it will for a further 3 years of coal mining, (and who knows what beyond that...?).

This will not only fuel climate change by almost 6 million tonnes of CO2, but inflict explosive further blasting, noise and dust pollution on nearby residents. On top of this, the long-awaited restoration of the land, will be pushed back by years, with concerns that it will never happen.

Sign the petition now

Published: 21/11/22

ACTION: British Science Museum's dirty coal money

The Adani Group wants to expand its coal operations by 800%. In Australia, they’re opening up one of the biggest untouched coal reserves on the planet, while expanding coal production in India and beyond. From Indonesia to Australia to India, Adani is under fire for land grabs and disregarding Indigenous rights. Sadly, this is the British Science Museum's new sponsor of the ‘Energy Revolution’ Gallery!

Leaders from indigenous communities in Australia, India and Indonesia, wrote to the museum to warn them that it's agreement with Adani is legitimising its “destructive coal expansion activities” and that “Indigenous communities in all these countries are experiencing land-grabs, repression, the destruction of sacred lands, pollution of air, land and water...”

In support of their letter, people gathered on the doorstep of the museum, with an advertising van playing a video message from the land defenders resisting Adani. Together with other groups, we are demanding the British Science Museum #DropAdani as a sponsor.

🗣 Add your voice by writing to the Science Museum now. Help us to convince them to drop Adani as a sponsor.

We heard leaders from the Hasdeo Forest under threat from Adani’s coal mining for a decade, Adivasi people who marched 300km to save their lands from an Adani coal mine in Chhattisgarh, Borneo on the doorstep of the massive Adani coal mine on Bunyu island, and Wangan and Jagalingou still fighting Adani’s destruction of their sacred territory.

👀 Want to hear their stories? Watch their film.

The man behind this all is Gautam Adani, the billionaire chairman and founder of the Adani Group. With a net worth estimated at US $74 billion, he is considered the second-richest man in India. One of our partners for the action, South Asia Solidarity Group have written about his rise to power and links with Narendra Modi:

"Narendra Modi became Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2001 using divisive Hindu nationalist rhetoric and a promise of modernity and development through neoliberal economic planning, working side by side with Gautam Adani and other powerful corporates. This period is marked, inevitably, by the State weakening labour power, fuelling xenophobia, fascism and violence, and exponentially rising inequality."

It’s abundantly clear, there’s no room for expansion of the fossil fuel industry. Over the last year with your support we have managed to convince insurers to no longer underwrite Adani's Australian mega mine. However, Adani is still looking to expand his corporate empire and is in desperate need of private finance. Sponsorship, one of the ways to clean the Adani brand and attract new finance and insurance.