Mary Creagh, Chair of EAC, writes to Grayling for clarification on government position on growth of UK aviation CO2
On 30th November, Chris Grayling gave evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) about their concerns regarding a 3rd Heathrow runway. Chris Grayling gave very inadequate responses on carbon emissions, and whether the government planned to keep to the cap recommended (since 2009) by the Committee on Climate Change. This is that UK aviation CO2 should not rise above about 37.5MtCo2 per year by 2050. That is the level in 2005. Now Mary Creagh MP, the Chair of the EAC, has written to Chris Grayling to get some confirmation of the government’s position. She asks: “Could you please tell us: Whether the Government will be working towards the CCC’s planning assumption for actual UK aviation emissions to be around 2005 levels by 2050? If so, whether you accept the CCC’s advice that this implies an increase in passenger growth of around 60% over the same period (which already takes into account forecasts around the impact of the the chronological and other advances that we discussed in the hearing)? If not, what empirical basis is the Government using to support its assumption that excess emissions from aviation can be compensated for by deeper cuts from other sectors.” She has asked for a reply by the 11th January, and the EAC will publicise it.
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Letter from Mary Creagh to Chris Grayling regarding carbon emission targets, 19 December
Full letter at
It states:
“Could you please tell us:
Whether the Government will be working towards the CCC’s planning assumption for actual UK aviation emissions to be around 2005 levels by 2050?
If so, whether you accept the CCC’s advice that this implies an increase in passenger growth of around 60% over the same period (which already takes into account forecasts around the impact of the the chronological and other advances that we discussed in the hearing)?
If not, what empirical basis is the Government using to support its assumption that excess emissions from aviation can be compensated for by deeper cuts from other sectors. “
And the letter continues on air pollution questions.
Mary Creagh concludes:
“I would be grateful for a response by Wednesday, 11th January 2017.
The Committee intends to publish this letter and your response.
Yours sincerely
Mary Creagh
Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee”
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Environmental Audit Committee question the Secretary of State on environmental aspects of Heathrow expansion: The Airports Commission Report: Carbon emissions, air quality and noise.
The transcript of the hearing with Chris Grayling is at
- Watch Parliamentary TV: The Airports Commission Report: Carbon emissions, air quality and noise
- Inquiry: The Airports Commission Report: Carbon emissions, air quality and noise
- Environmental Audit Committee
- Letter from the Secretary of State to the Committee (
PDF 2.4 MB)
Witnesses
Wednesday 30 November, Grimond Room, Portcullis House
At 2.00pm
- Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP, Secretary of State for Transport
- Caroline Low, Director of Airport Capacity, DfT
Response from the Government
The Environmental Audit Committee has today published a response from the Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP, to the Committee’s interim findings on the Airport Commission’s Report: Carbon Emissions, Air Quality and Noise.
The Committee conducted an inquiry in autumn 2015 into the environmental aspects of the Airports Commission’s findings. The Committee said it would hear oral evidence from the Secretary of State for Transport if the Government agreed with the Airports Commission’s recommendation to build an additional runway at Heathrow Airport. The Committee’s report, and the evidence received by the inquiry, can be found on the Committee’s website.
Chair’s comments
Commenting on Mr Grayling’s response, the EAC Chair Mary Creagh MP said:
“We’re particularly keen to hear from the Secretary of State about how the third runway will be compliant with our EU air quality obligations, especially in light of the High Court’s judgement that the UK’s air quality plan is illegal.”
Correspondence
- Letter from Mary Creagh to Chris Grayling regarding carbon emission targets, 19 December 2016 (Published 23 December 2016
- Letter from Mary Creagh to John Hayes regarding Volkswagon and Sustainability in the Department for Transport dated 19 December 2016 (Published 19 December 2016
- Letter from Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP to Mary Creagh MP regarding the Airports Commission Report dated 8 November 2016 (Published 25 November 2016