Following reports that allowing a third runway to be built at Heathrow would “overshoot” the UK’s legally binding climate targets, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has expressed serious concern for [what will hapen f all goes ahea]
New Report
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has expressed concern for the proposed expansion of London Heathrow Airport (LHR) following the published findings of a report commissioned by the environmental campaign organisation Friends of the Earth. The report, which provides the first detailed analysis of whether the LHR expansion is compatible with the UK’s legal carbon budgets, found that the UK aviation industry is already forecast to exceed legally binding limits in the seventh carbon budget, part of the national plan to reach net zero by 2050. This result comes after recent approved expansions at Gatwick, Stansted and Luton, and is not including the impact of a third runway at Heathrow.
The plans to further expand LHR, which is already the UK’s largest airport, have been described by the government as “critical to national growth.” Public consultation on the Government’s Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement (HENPS), the policy framework that sets out how future Heathrow expansion proposals would be assessed before any final decision is taken, closed on Tuesday September 1.
Expansion plans for LHR have long been opposed by the Mayor of London, as well as climate experts. Following the publication of the new report, Lord Khan said:
“I am deeply concerned about the potential adverse impacts of Heathrow expansion on air quality, noise pollution, our environment and the transport networks in the capital and beyond. While aviation plays an important role in our economy and helps to keep us connected as a global city, any growth must not come at the expense of Londoners’ health or our environment.”
What Next?
The report also highlighted that, based on existing evidence, sustainable aviation fuels would not be capable of closing the gap between carbon emissions and targets. Lord Khan emphasised further in a statement
“The truth is the whole case for Heathrow expansion relies on outdated evidence that fails to consider the urgent challenges we face today. I will continue to vehemently oppose these plans as I seek to build a fairer, safer, greener, more prosperous London for everyone.”
Mike Childs, the head of policy, science and research at Friends of the Earth, commented:
“After this summer of record-breaking heat and nearly 3,000 excess deaths, adding a third runway at Heathrow is the climate equivalent of pouring petrol on a raging wildfire. The evidence is clear: there is no route where expansion at Heathrow can be in line with our legally binding climate targets. The Government has a choice: commit to taking action on the climate seriously, reject Heathrow expansion and constrain excessive flying, or abandon the UK’s climate targets and future generations by giving the third runway the go-ahead.”
A Department for Transport spokesperson said in a statement that the responses to the HENPS consultation will be carefully considered before next steps are established later this year, emphasising that the LHR expansion will only go ahead if it meets strict environmental outlines on air quality and noise pollution, and is delivered in line with legally binding climate change obligations.
Asserting that it was currently “operating at capacity”, the airport argued that its expansion plans aim to provide key infrastructure the country requires to remain competitive in the global aviation market, and will deliver important economic growth. The scheme is estimated to cost £33 billion, including £1.5 billion to move the M25 to build the runway, and is expected to be privately financed. LHR’s capacity would be set to increase to 756,000 flights and 150 million passengers per year if the expansion goes ahead.
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