A committee of Members of Parliament (MPs) has raised concerns about the planned expansion of airports in the UK, which could lead to an increase of hundreds of thousands of flights annually. This expansion, as detailed in a report by the cross-party Environmental Audit Committee, may jeopardize the government’s commitments to achieving net zero carbon emissions. The committee asserted that the government has not sufficiently demonstrated that the economic benefits of airport expansion will surpass its negative effects on the climate.
The government has sanctioned several airport expansion projects, including a third runway at London Heathrow and a second runway at Gatwick. The Department for Transport (DfT) has stated that these expansion plans would proceed only if they comply with existing climate change legal obligations.
In the coming weeks, ministers are expected to announce their preferred proposal for Heathrow’s expansion. Gatwick’s expansion could potentially result in an additional 100,000 flights per year, while Heathrow’s third runway may add as many as 276,000 flights annually. Plans for Luton Airport expansion could also contribute tens of thousands of additional flights.
The Environmental Audit Committee emphasized that achieving net zero emissions would require a substantial effort to decarbonize aviation alongside airport expansion. However, the use of technological solutions, such as sustainable aviation fuel, has yet to reach a commercial scale. While the committee acknowledged that airport expansion might yield some economic growth, it noted that the extent of this growth remains uncertain and unsubstantiated by the government.
The UK is bound by legally mandated targets to lower greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to the global goal of limiting temperature increases to below 1.5°C by 2050. Climate scientists warn that exceeding this threshold could have severe implications, including rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and adverse effects on agriculture.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander reassured Parliament that expansion plans must align with environmental and climate obligations. The DfT reiterated its commitment to ensuring that airport expansion adheres to its climate policies. However, Dr. Alex Chapman from the New Economics Foundation, who provided testimony to the committee, noted that the government’s claims about economic growth linked to airport expansion lacked supporting evidence. He pointed out a decline in demand for business air travel and an increase in tourists traveling abroad rather than visiting the UK.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62exx578lzo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss