THE mayor of Copeland has hit out after a former NASA scientist criticised plans to build a new coal mine in West Cumbria.

In a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, leading climate scientist Dr James Hansen said that failure to stop the mine from going ahead at Whitehaven would be in ‘contemptuous disregard’ for the future of young people and nature.

But mayor Mike Starkie called Dr Hansen’s views ‘completely irrelevant’.

He said: “I don’t know why anybody is writing headlines about it.

“He’s not even in this country.

“They have enough problems with climate change in America without forming uninformed opinions on projects here.

“I think his views are completely irrelevant.

“It is just the protestors looking for something to jump on. I wouldn’t have given it the time of day.”

Dr Hansen warned the prime minister he risked ‘humiliation’ if the plans were not stopped.

In his letter, he said: “In leading the UK, as host to the Cop (climate change conference), you have a chance to change the course of our climate trajectory, earning the UK and yourself historic accolades.

“Or you can stick with business-almost-as-usual and be vilified in the streets of Glasgow, London, and around the world.

“It would be easy to achieve this latter ignominy and humiliation.

“Just continue with the plan to open a new coal mine in Cumbria and continue to invest funds of the British public in fossil fuel projects overseas, in contemptuous disregard of the future of young people and nature.”

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron, who has long been in opposition to the coal mine, also weighed in the matter.

He said: “This intervention is yet further proof that the UK’s leadership in tackling climate change has been completely undermined by the Government’s decision to give a green light to a new coal mine in Cumbria.

“Climate change is a massive international issue that affects the entire planet and, if we are serious about dealing with it, then we have to lead by example.

“It beggars belief that while most of Europe is looking to significantly reduce the amount of carbon involved in producing steel by using hydrogen, we are opening coal mines and digging up fossil fuels to make steel, over 80 per cent of which we are then going to export to other countries.”

But Mr Starkie said the coal mine was necessary for future green developments.

He said: “As far as this country goes, I think we’re leading the way in climate change and green projects.

“For any new green sources of energy, we’re going to need steel - and lots of it.

“There’s no alternative method of producing steel other than coking coal. It’s better it is made here, in a modern mine, than shipping it from around the world.

“My view is really, if he’s wanting to make a difference on climate change, he should be lobbying politicians in his own country.”

Campaigners, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, have criticised the go-ahead for the coal mine, warning it undermines the Government’s claims it is committed to cutting emissions to net-zero by 2050.

Responding to Dr Hansen’s warning, Friends of the Earth coal campaigner Tony Bosworth urged the prime minister to look at the issue again.

Mr Bosworth said: “The mounting criticism over the Government’s coal mine decision is completely justified. This new mine completely undermines Boris Johnson’s credibility ahead of this year’s crucial climate summit. The prime minister must think again – and consign UK coal to the history books where it belongs.”

The £165 million mine, which is expected to create around 500 jobs, was given the green light by Cumbria County Council in October. It would be the UK’s first deep coal mine in 30 years.