Environment Report Backs Our Campaign Against Third Runway

Yesterday (Tuesday) in Parliament a report by the Environmental Change Institute of Oxford University was published assessing the impact of aviation on our environment and climate change. It examines in substantial detail whether the Government’s policy of supporting the expansion of air travel will enable it to meet its commitment to a 60% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. This is the UK’s major contribution to averting the climate change threat to our planet.

This independent scientific report states firmly that “the UK will be unable to meet its targets for reducing climate change impacts without action to curb the demand for air travel.” The report describes how under existing government policy air passenger movements would increase from about 200 million a year in 2003 to 470 million a year in 2030. This is set to double the emissions coming from aviation between 2000 and 2030 and could increase to between 4 and 10 times between 1990 and 2050.

According to the report the UK generates more flights than any other European country and is developing an “air dependent culture” with Government estimates that there is a £17 billion deficit between the amount UK residents spend abroad than overseas visitors spend in Britain.

It is clear from the report’s findings that aviation expansion as set out in the Government’s Aviation White Paper last year is just not sustainable. The proposals for a third runway at Heathrow fly in the face of the Government’s commitment to reduce emissions and tackle climate change.

This report is another nail in the coffin of a third runway and any further expansion at Heathrow.

submitted by John on 18 Oct 2006 at 06:53