On Wednesday 14 May, the Environmental Audit Committee holds the
first session of its new inquiry into airport expansion and its
impact on the UK's climate and nature targets.
Government Ministers have signalled their support for expansion
of the UK's airports, with Transport Secretary recently approving plans at
Luton. MPs are investigating how expansion could be achieved in
line with the Government's climate goals and Carbon Budgets.
In 2023, aviation represented 8% of the UK's emissions, making it
the country's sixth highest emitting sector, and aviation
emissions are considered one of the hardest to abate. Under its
‘Balanced Net Zero Pathway', the Climate Change Committee assumes
that any airport expansion will be balanced out by reducing
capacity elsewhere in the UK, so that there is no net increase in
UK airport capacity.
MPs are likely to ask whether airport expansion is likely to lead
to a significant increase in emissions, or whether demand
management policies – those designed to directly reduce air
travel, such as carbon pricing or a frequent flyer levy – is
essential to reduce future emissions. They are likely to consider
how new technologies such as sustainable aviation fuel can help
to reduce emissions from air travel, and whether these will have
enough of an impact.
MPs will also consider the wider consequences of proposed
expansions on local air quality and noise pollution, especially
around London airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton.
Witnesses
From 14.30:
- Professor Rob Miller, Director, Whittle Laboratory
- Celeste Hicks, Policy Manager, Aviation Environment
Federation
- Johann Beckford, Senior Policy Advisor, Green Alliance
From 15.30:
- Dr Lisa Lavia, Managing Director, Noise Abatement Society
- Alethea Warrington, Head of Aviation, Energy & Heat,
Possible
- Paul Beckford, Policy Director, No 3rd Runway Coalition
