Jeremy Corbyn urged to block all airport expansion under radical plan to slash carbon emissions by 2030

Labour could end all airport expansion in the UK under radical plans drawn up by party activists to cut carbon emissions to net zero by 2030. With Corbyn saying climate change is one of his top priorities, his supporters hope to push their proposals to a vote at the Labour conference next week, to make them official policy.  There are at least 7 motions to the conference, submitted by local branches, asking for an end to more construction and growth of airports. Environmentally aware Labour members “specifically want to see radical policy on the climate and if you’re talking about net zero by 2030…one of the less radical things, to help decarbonise the economy, will be not building any more airports.”  Separately, Labour for a Green New Deal, a prominent grassroots campaign group, has claimed that “opposition to airport expansion should be as natural to the Labour Party…as support for new green jobs.”  Labour party members are being asked to boycott the many events at the conference sponsored by Heathrow and Gatwick airports (they always sponsor conference stuff, hoping to gain favour…).  The problem for Labour is the unions, Unite in particular, which have members working in the aviation sector..

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Jeremy Corbyn urged to block all airport expansion under radical plan to slash carbon emissions by 2030

Labour could end all airport expansion in the UK under radical plans drawn up by party activists to cut carbon emissions to net zero by 2030.

The pro-Corbyn campaign group Momentum has teamed up with grassroots campaigners to try and pressure Jeremy Corbyn into adopting more drastic measures to slash pollution by the end of the next decade.

With the Labour leader declaring climate change one of his top priorities, his supporters hope to push their proposals to a vote at the party’s conference next week in order to make them official policy.

Scores of local Labour branches have submitted motions on climate change to the conference, with at least seven calling for an end to the future construction and growth of airports.

Whilst Momentum has not yet publicly called for blocks on airport expansion, a senior insider told The Daily Telegraph that it was likely to throw its weight behind the proposals in the coming days.

They added: “We specifically want to see radical policy on the climate and if you’re talking about net zero by 2030…one of the less radical things will be not building anymore airports. It’s actually quite pedestrian.”

Separately, Labour for a Green New Deal, a prominent grassroots campaign group, has claimed that “opposition to airport expansion should be as natural to the Labour Party…as support for new green jobs.”

The organisation has put forward its own motion calling on Labour to commit to the “decarbonisation” of the economy, and is urging party members to boycott events at the conference sponsored by Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

It comes as Labour today unveils plans to install more than 150,000 solar panels on hundreds of hospitals nationwide, amid plans to turn the NHS into the “greenest health service on earth”.

Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, will on Sunday reveal a raft of new proposals for a “net zero health service”, including a new fleet of low emission ambulances.

Other proposals include planting one million trees – one for every staff member – on NHS land, as well as replacing outdated heating and energy systems in hospitals.

Labour believes the plans will cut millions of tonnes of carbon emissions annually, whilst the rollout of solar panels and new heating systems is expected to shave millions of pounds off energy bills.

However, the calls among Labour pressure groups for more radical climate action are likely to pose a significant headache for Mr Corbyn, who is attempting to balance his environmental credentials against resistance from trade union leaders.

They include Unite’s Len McCluskey, whose union represents tens of thousands of airport workers, and who last year rowed with Labour over its opposition to a third runway at Heathrow.

He is likely to be joined by the Trades Union Congress, which has signalled it will only support environmental policies which do not risk job losses in industry.

On Thursday a senior Labour source warned of a looming “showdown” at the party conference, with climate activists and union representatives expected to clash over the final policy proposal due to be put to a vote of members.

The Telegraph also understands that Mr Corbyn is concerned that the timetable for cutting Britain’s carbon emissions to net zero is unrealistic and could try to push the deadline back by up to 10 years.

But those in favour have indicated to The Telegraph that they will resist efforts to water down the proposals, with a Momentum source warning that the move would anger members.

“When you’ve got 130 CLPs [local party branches] calling for 2030…there will be quite a lot of pressure to have something that doesn’t look like a fudge,” they added.

“[Labour] don’t want to be seen voting down radical action on climate on the conference floor.”

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