What Heathrow’s 3rd runway proposal says on carbon emissions and air quality (very little)
Just taking the parts on carbon emissions and air quality from Heathrow’s promotional document for its 3rd runway, the claims can be seen to be ambitious, or perhaps unrealistic. Tellingly they forget to mention carbon emissions in the press release, other than to say there is one of their 10 “commitments” (no indication how these are to be enforced) that they will “Keep CO2 emissions within UK climate change targets”. This appears to be largely on hopes of more efficient operation, plus planes as yet unbuilt, carbon trading systems as yet not in existence, and new fuels (they don’t actually mention biofuels), which also do not exist. On local air quality standards, which the Heathrow area currently often breaches, Heathrow says it wants a local congestion charge to reduce vehicle journeys, a lot more public transport (paid for by taxpayer?) and another commitment (enforcement?) to “Increase the proportion of passengers using public transport to access Heathrow to more than 50%”. They also depend on road vehicle engines in future emitting less NO2 than at present.
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Extracts from the Heathrow press release, relating to carbon emissions and to local air quality :
Press release (13.5.2014) at link
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- New section of M25 to be tunnelled and upgraded alongside the existing section, increasing capacity and reducing congestion without disrupting road users.
Heathrow’s 10 commitments
If Government supports a third runway we will:
| by supporting new rail, bus and coach schemes to improve public transport to Heathrow and considering the case for a congestion charge |
| by incentivising cleaner aircraft, supporting global carbon trading, and increasing public transport use |
That’s all there is …..
In the Heathrow document “Taking Britain further” here are the relevant extracts on carbon emissions and local air quality:
http://www.heathrowairport.com/static/HeathrowAboutUs/Downloads/PDF/taking_britain_further.pdf
[By contrast, the Committee on Climate Change had a less unrealistic scenario for future UK aviation emissions. ]
the local community and for taxis. Funds could be ring-fenced to pay for transport schemes and local community improvements. Heathrow will be able to deliver more flights without increasing the traffic on the road due to the airport”