Government Fails to Seek Climate Advice on Heathrow Expansion Plans

Ministers Yet to Seek Climate Advice on Heathrow Expansion The UK government's climate change advisory panel has yet to be formally asked to assess the impact of plans to expand Heathrow airport on carbon emissions targets, despite the government's pledge that the expansion must not breach the country's legally binding target of lowering emissions to net zero by 2050. According to the Climate Change Committee (CCC), it would provide a view on the plans to build a third runway at Heathrow if advice was requested. The CCC is required by law to assess whether the UK's carbon targets will be met and has repeatedly cautioned against airport expansion. The government said in a statement that it was assessing initial proposals on Heathrow expansion and would engage with the committee during the process. However, ministers can ask the CCC for ad-hoc advice on specific policy issues but are under no legal duty to follow its recommendations. Lord Deben, a former chairman of the CCC, expressed concerns about the potential impact of expanding Heathrow airport. "There is limited space for aviation growth without emissions reductions," he said. "If they give planning permission for expansion of Heathrow that inevitably means there will be less opportunity for other airports in Britain." The government's decision to expand Heathrow has been met with opposition from environmental groups and some lawmakers, who argue that it would undermine efforts to reduce carbon emissions. However, others have argued that the expansion is necessary to boost economic growth and improve connectivity. Background on the issue shows that the UK government has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 78% by 2035 and reaching net zero by 2050. The CCC has warned that airport expansion would make it more difficult for the country to meet its carbon targets, as aviation is one of the fastest-growing sources of emissions. The current status of the Heathrow expansion plans remains uncertain, with no clear timeline for when a decision will be made. However, the government's failure to seek climate advice from the CCC has raised concerns among environmental groups and lawmakers that the expansion may not be aligned with the country's carbon reduction targets. In response to criticism, a government spokesperson said: "We are committed to reducing emissions and meeting our net zero target by 2050. We will engage with the Climate Change Committee during the process of assessing proposals for Heathrow expansion." *Reporting by Bbc.*