Friends of the Earth warn that airport expansion will undermine UK climate action

Commenting ahead of the Airports Commission report which is expected to recommend airport expansion at either Gatwick or Heathrow, Friends of the Earth’s head of campaigns Andrew Pendleton said: “It’s simply not credible for the Government to build a new runway in the South East and still claim to be serious about tackling climate change.  “Airport expansion will also have huge impacts on the local community, noise levels and air quality. We can’t preach to the world about stopping catastrophic climate change on the one hand and send aviation emissions soaring on the other.”
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Airport expansion will undermine UK climate action, warns Friends of the Earth

30.6.2015  (FoE press release)

Commenting ahead of Wednesday’s (1 July 2015) Davies Commission report which
is expected to recommend airport expansion at either Gatwick or Heathrow,
Friends of the Earth’s head of campaigns Andrew Pendleton said:

“It’s simply not credible for the Government to build a new runway in the
South East and still claim to be serious about tackling climate change.

“Airport expansion will also have huge impacts on the local community, noise
levels and air quality.

“We can’t preach to the world about stopping catastrophic climate change on
the one hand and send aviation emissions soaring on the other.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. The case for expanding airport capacity is extremely weak. Taken together London’s five major airports serve more destinations than any other European city – over 360 with at least a weekly service – see [1] (section 2.5)

2. The Committee on Climate Change says 37.5Mt CO2 is an appropriate cap [2] for the UK’s aviation emissions in 2050 to fit with the Climate Change Act.

However even if capped at the level the CCC suggests:
•   aviation emissions would represent a quarter of total UK greenhouse gas emissions  [3] in 2050
•    [4 ]other sectors would have to cut emissions by 85% [5] rather than the average 80% needed overall by 2050

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info@foe.co.uk
020 7490 1555

[1]https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/138162/aviation-connectivity-and-the-economy.pdf
[2]http://www.aef.org.uk/2015/02/19/climate-change-committee-is-airport-expansion-viable-when-emissions-are-capped/
[3]http://www.aef.org.uk/2014/09/29/environmental-policy-proposals-for-airport-expansion/
[4]http://www.aef.org.uk/2014/09/29/environmental-policy-proposals-for-airport-expansion/
[5]http://www.aef.org.uk/2015/06/03/briefing-environmental-challenges-to-airport-expansion-in-the-south-east/

 

https://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/airport-expansion-will-undermine-uk-climate-action-warns-friends-earth

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