Heathrow expansion
The expansion of London’s Heathrow Airport has become the latest iconic environmental battle between those who envisage a low-carbon future and a Labour government that seems dead set on locking the UK into a fossil fuel-driven transport infrastructure.
WWF is concerned that current government plans – which would result in an increase in Heathrow flights from 473,000 to 700,000 a year – will lead to a huge rise in emissions that contribute to climate change, as well as producing more noise and pollution for people living around the airport. All this comes at a time when we should be rapidly cutting our emissions to meet reduction targets – of 80% by 2050 – which the government has agreed to in the current Climate Change Bill. Only such a reduction can avoid the worst impacts of climate change on people and the natural world.
Growing rebellion
There's a growing rebellion amongst MPs over plans for a third runway at Heathrow. With a decision on whether the expansion will go ahead due by December, over 100 MPs have already signed a petition (called an Early Day Motion (EDM)), criticising the flawed consultation and calling for a full investigation into the potential for a new high-speed rail network to replace short-haul flights.
What's more, new research for WWF raises serious questions about the economic benefits of the new runway. We’ve already shown that businesses are increasingly looking to use videoconferencing and other alternatives to cut down on flying – which indicates that the extra runway isn’t needed as much as the government claims. Now we've taken a closer look at the way the government has worked out the economic benefits – and we’ve found that the case for expansion rests on some questionable assumptions.
Campaigning by WWF supporters has already helped to get aviation emissions accounted for in the proposed UK target of an 80% cut in carbon emissions by 2050. Heathrow is the first big test of whether the government will take the steps needed to put its vision of a low-carbon economy into practice.
Take action
We are very close to winning one of the most iconic environmental battles of recent times and every extra signature on the EDM puts yet more pressure on the government. So we are asking our supporters to email their MP, urging him or her to sign.
Email your MP
Take action
