Airport expansions incompatible with carbon budgets ‘won’t go ahead’ – Miliband
Airport expansions incompatible with carbon budgets ‘won’t go ahead’ – Miliband
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Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has insisted any airport expansions that are inconsistent with meeting legally-binding limits on UK emissions “won’t go ahead”. Mr Miliband was repeatedly quizzed by MPs on Monday over reports that Chancellor Rachel Reeves will back a third Heathrow runway, and endorse expansion at both Gatwick and Luton, in her pursuit of economic growth.
The Energy Secretary, who is leading Government efforts to decarbonise the electricity grid by 2030, has been a vocal opponent to the expansion of the west London airport in the past for climate reasons. But last week, he ruled out resigning from Government if it gives a third runway the go-ahead.
Questioned by the Environmental Audit Committee on Monday, Mr Miliband repeatedly refused to be drawn into speculation about Heathrow. But he reiterated the Government’s position that any aviation expansion takes place within the UK’s carbon budgets, which are part of plans to deliver on the country’s 2050 target to reduce emissions by 100% compared with 1990 levels.
Mr Miliband told MPs: “I just want to sort of provide this element of reassurance to you, which is 100% any aviation expansion must be justified within carbon budgets, and if it can’t be justified, it won’t go ahead.”. He later added that he has “always thought” the Government’s goal with aviation is to neither “stop people going on holiday (and) stop the economy getting what it needs” nor “business as usual, as if climate change is not a problem”.
