CCC writes to Government on Heathrow Expansion
Chris Broome
The government's climate watchdog, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), has weighed in on the row over a third runway at Heathrow.
The advisory body wrote to Transport Secretary Chris Grayling last week to express "surprise" over his failure to mention climate change in his Commons address announcing the government's backing for the scheme.
In a letter signed by CCC chair Lord Deben and deputy chair Baroness Brown, the CCC makes clear the UK's current legally binding pledge to cut emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 means aviation emissions must be at 2005 levels by 2050.
This "relatively generous" aviation budget represents a doubling of 1990 emissions, but will still require the widespread use of sustainable biofuels by the airline industry and moves by other sectors of the economy to cut their emissions to almost zero, if UK climate targets are to be met the CCC said.
"The UK has a legally binding commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Climate Change Act," the letter reads. "The government has also committed, through the Paris Agreement, to limit the rise in global temperature to well below 2C and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5C.
"We were surprised that your statement to the House of Commons on the National Policy Statement on 5 June 2018 made no mention of either of these commitments. It is essential that aviation's place in the overall strategy for UK emissions reduction is considered and planned fully by your Department."
The letter suggests the CCC is concerned the Department for Transport is not fully considering the impact any expansion of airport capacity in the UK is likely to have on emissions.
"The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) does not have a view on the location of airport capacity, as long as total UK aviation emissions are compatible with meeting the 2050 climate objectives," it adds.
A Parliamentary vote on Heathrow expansion is expected to take place later this month.
Labour is considering whether to support for the project, arguing its backing is contingent on the runway's ability to meet four key tests relating to noise, air quality, climate change and economic growth.
The government insists expansion plans can be compliant with UK carbon targets, based on the Airport Commission's assessment that aviation can expand without busting the UK's target of cutting carbon emissions 80 per cent against 1990 levels by 2050.
Work is also underway on a new Aviation Strategy, due next year, which will set out the government's long-term plans for reducing carbon emissions from the aviation sector.
But many remain sceptical that new runways can be made compatible with carbon targets.
Critics have repeatedly argued the official projections are based on a raft of highly optimistic assumptions, including sharp improvements in aircraft fuel efficiency and the use of cleaner fuels, drastic cuts in emissions across the rest of the economy, and steep increases in carbon taxes. They also make no allowances for the government's current plan to consider the introduction of a new 'net zero' emission target for 2050.