WWF - For a living planet

A vital step towards stabilising atmospheric levels of carbon, and the UK's climate change impact, is to curb the planned expansion of UK airports. Bigger airports will mean more flights which will mean more climate change and damage to the natural world.

Challenging the case for expansion

Much of the justification for expanding our airports is related to the perceived economic benefits: the government suggests that more air travel is vital to our economic competitiveness.

Yet WWF's report, Travelling Light shows that many companies are already switching to trains for short trips, or investing in the latest videoconferencing equipment in order to cut the number of flights they take. In this way they save themselves time and money, as well as reducing their carbon emissions. Many more companies are following suit, establishing green business travel plans that involve cutting down on flying.

The campaign

WWF's One Planet Mobility campaign will challenge business to cut one in five flights. The campaign will help business to do so by encouraging the greater use of low carbon transport where appropriate and promoting the use of videoconferencing. We will also lobby the government to lead by example, by cutting their flights and introduce tax incentives for companies purchasing videoconference systems.

By demonstrating that the business sector is able to reduce its use of air transport while maintaining or even improving productivity, WWF will challenge the assumption that aviation expansion is necessary to maintain the competitiveness of British businesses - one of the key pillars of the government's pro-expansion argument.

Heathrow expansion

As well as focussing on solutions for business WWF is supporting campaigns that challenge the expansion of Heathrow and other airports.