T: 020 7248 2227 E: info@airportwatch.org.uk

About AirportWatch - Our Aims and Objectives

Who we are

AirportWatch is an umbrella movement which unites the national environmental organisations and the airport community groups opposed to the aggressive go-for-growth policy of aviation expansion outlined in the Aviation White Paper.

AirportWatch aims to oppose any expansion of aviation and airports likely to damage the human or natural environment, and to promote an aviation policy for the UK which is in full accordance with the principles of sustainable development.

AirportWatch is an umbrella organisation, formed in 2000. It campaigns for a demand management approach to aviation. Demand for air travel could be dampened down by government removing the considerable tax breaks the aviation industry receives.

AirportWatch believes that government policies to expand aviation can and should be resisted. Already ministers have been surprised by the strength – and unity – of the opposition. They are on the defensive and are unwilling to engage in debate on many of the key arguments.

But it will be a long and difficult battle. We need to build up strength and support. We need to develop contacts with a broader range of individuals and organisations concerned not just with the environment.

AirportWatch's members and supporters include the Aviation Environment Federation, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, the Campaign for Better Transport [formerly Transport 2000], the Woodland Trust, the World Development Movement, Environmental Protection UK, the National Trust and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds - and many more.

AirportWatch also works closely with the many community groups protesting about expansion at airports across the country, and has established links with similar bodies in Europe.

We are involving MPs, the churches, women’s groups, organisations of older and disabled people, and social justice and youth movements. We need to tap into the support of high profile individuals with good links to the media, business and political parties.

We need, in other words, to build a “Jubilee-2000 type” broader coalition to make the full range of arguments for a different approach and persuade the government of the day to listen – and change its policies.

If you share our concern about aviation growth or airport expansion, please JOIN US

AirportWatch – campaigning for a sustainable and equitable aviation policy

Think!

Did you know that one person, flying from the UK to Florida, will produce climate change emissions equivalent to one average car clocking up 12,000 miles - which is about an average year's motoring?

To find out about that, and much more about aviation, what the problems are, what some of our significant supporters have said, why AirportWatch is campaigning and what needs to be done, see the article below.

AirportWatch - campaigning for a sustainable and equitable aviation policy