Join, Adopt or Donate
Home » What we do » Campaigning » Transport campaign » Previous updates

Previous updates

Heathrow fight not over

On 15 January the Secretary of State for Transport announced the government’s decision to allow the expansion of London’s Heathrow airport with the development of a third runway. But the WWF believes that opposing voices can still make a difference.

WWF and its supporters worked hard to persuade the government that a third runway would compromise the UK’s ability to meets its climate change targets, as set by the Climate Change Committee in December 2008, and so should not go ahead. The Labour party itself was split on the issue, with more than 50 Labour MPs signing a petition against the runway.

Constant pressure from WWF supporters and a coalition of environmental and community groups has at least persuaded the government to make some concessions. The runway will be limited to 125,000 flights per year, rather than the planned 225,000, and increased capacity will only be permitted if a Climate Change Committee review in 2020 confirms the UK is on track to reduce aviation emissions back down below 2005 levels by 2050.

The proposal for so-called ‘mixed mode’ – where runways can be used for both take-off and landing – has also been scrapped, which will give local residents some respite from noise pollution.

WWF will continue to challenge the expansion of any UK airport, and will not give up seeking other ways to halt the building of a third runway at Heathrow.