Climate group says Heathrow expansion would be ‘catastrophic’
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Expanding Heathrow Airport would be “catastrophic”, environmental groups have claimed, amid reports that the Chancellor is preparing to back the project. Rachel Reeves is expected to use a speech on growth next week to support the proposed third runway at the west London airport and endorse expansion at Gatwick and Luton Airports, according to news agency Bloomberg News.
Opponents of airport expansion claim boosting flights would be damaging for the environment. Alethea Warrington, head of aviation at climate charity Possible, said: “Approving airport expansions would be a catastrophic misstep for a Government which claims to be a climate leader.
“This huge increase in emissions won’t help our economy, and would just encourage the small group of frequent flyers who take most of the flights, further worsening the UK’s huge tourism deficit.”. She added that the Government should focus on supporting “affordable and low-carbon trains and buses”.
Jenny Bates, transport campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: “A decision to green-light another runway at Heathrow would be hugely irresponsible in the midst of a climate emergency and given 2024 was the first year to surpass the all-important 1.5 degrees threshold.
“It would also fly in the face of the Prime Minister’s promise to show international leadership on climate change.”. She added that airport expansions would “bring worse air pollution and noise disturbance for local people”. Heathrow’s third runway project secured parliamentary approval in June 2018 but has been delayed by legal challenges over the environmental impact, and the coronavirus pandemic.
