Heathrow Third Runway Could Push UK Beyond Climate Targets, New Report Warns

Heathrow’s proposed third runway is incompatible with the UK’s legally binding climate targets, according to new analysis from the University of Manchester’s Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research.

The report, commissioned by Friends of the Earth, says the UK aviation sector is already forecast to exceed its share of the Seventh Carbon Budget for 2038 to 2042 before any Heathrow expansion is taken into account. Depending on the amount of sustainable aviation fuel that becomes available, the projected overshoot is between 21% and 50%.

The analysis also questions whether sustainable aviation fuels and greenhouse gas removals can be deployed at the scale and speed required to support further aviation growth while staying within the UK’s carbon budgets.

Tyndall researcher Dr Lois Pennington said the modelling found that every aviation scenario published by the Government overshoots the carbon budget before a third runway is included. The centre is calling for the expansion plans to be rejected.

For pre-booked journeys across Liverpool, Merseyside and Greater Manchester, Manpool Transfers provides airport and long-distance transfer services.

The findings were published after the public consultation on the draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement closed on Tuesday 1 September. The consultation is part of the Government’s review of the policy framework for Heathrow’s proposed Northwest Runway.

The Department for Transport’s own Heathrow Expansion Appraisal Report presents a different assessment of the scheme. It says expansion could deliver passenger and connectivity benefits, but also identifies significant environmental disbenefits and records a negative net present value across the modelled ranges when the wider costs and benefits are combined.

The DfT has said Heathrow expansion will only proceed if it is compatible with the UK’s legally binding climate obligations and meets requirements on air quality and noise. The draft policy statement does not itself grant development consent or approve construction of a runway.

The Government will consider consultation responses and parliamentary scrutiny before deciding whether to designate an amended policy statement. Any future Heathrow scheme would still require a separate development consent process.

For taxi, private-hire and airport-transfer operators, the dispute is likely to remain relevant to future surface-access planning, including how additional passenger demand would be accommodated on roads and public transport around Heathrow.

Thanks for visiting DM News! If you’ve got a question, a story tip, or anything you’d like to share, head over to DriverMatty.com — I love to hear from you. While you’re there, don’t forget to check out my other websites and social media channels.