WIREDGOV

The Government’s draft aviation policy has been published without the expected consultation on Southeast airport capacity and with little sign that it will keep its promise to tackle the challenge of climate change in any meaningful way. Although there is acknowledgement of the need to reduce aviation emissions, the Government optimistically thinks this can be achieved through overreliance on technology and biofuels, rather than capping airport capacity to reduce emissions.

The expected 'hub airport' consultation has been further delayed, and WWF expressed concern at the possibility that the Government is considering a u-turn on the coalition agreement which ruled out further expansion of Southeast airports. WWF noted that there is no need for expensive, environmentally-damaging new runways, because there is already ample runway and terminal capacity in the Southeast to allow growth to 2050 while keeping within environmental limits.

Jean Leston, Senior Transport Policy Advisor at WWF said: “Aviation policy is one of the very few areas where the Government can still claim to be green, thanks to the Coalition agreement not to expand at Heathrow, Stansted or Gatwick. We believe this is the right policy and doesn’t need a U-turn. We don’t need more runways, we simply need to make better use of what we have.

“By using our existing runways more effectively we will still see aviation growth within environmental limits, meaning a win for all. As the aviation minister has said, London’s connectivity is not about to fall off a cliff. But the Government’s environmental credibility on aviation would definitely be dashed on the rocks if they go for major airport expansion at Heathrow or the Thames Estuary.”

Notes to editors

1. A recent WWF/AEF report, Available UK airport capacity under a 2050 CO2 target for the aviation sector, shows that there is available runway and terminal capacity to meet demand to 2050 in most regions of the UK including the Southeast, and in line with CCC limits to aviation growth, without the need for further expansion: http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/airport_capacity_report_july_2011.pdf

For more information:

George Smeeton, Senior Press Officer WWF-UK
Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk