UK Plans For New Gas Power Plant Violate Climate Commitments - Watchdog

The UK government's plans to convert a coal-fired power plant to a gas one will increase greenhouse gas emissions, which is in breach with its climate commitments, an environmental charity said Monday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th November, 2018) The UK government's plans to convert a coal-fired power plant to a gas one will increase greenhouse gas emissions, which is in breach with its climate commitments, an environmental charity said Monday.

ClientEarth said it had filed an objection against the conversion of the Drax Power's station in North Yorkshire, which would be otherwise shut down under the UK's coal phaseout plans for 2025.

"The UK government claims to be a climate leader, yet if major energy projects such as this from Drax are granted planning consent, the UK will risk carbon lock-in that would seriously undermine its ability to meet its climate change commitments," ClientEarth lawyer Sam Hunter Jones said.

The government estimates the country will need 6 gigawatt worth of new gas plants up to 2035. But the charity says it has already approved 15 gigawatt worth of projects, and the Drax station would take this figure up to 18 gigawatt.