Cost of emissions from Heathrow’s third runway doubled to £100 billion
THE cost of emissions from Heathrow Airport’s proposed third runway have doubled to £100 billion, a new report says.
A study by the New Economics Forum (NEF) suggests the cost of emissions generated by a third runway at the airport would be twice the previous estimate of £50bn.
It follows an update in the cost of carbon emissions published by the Government in September 2021 to reflect its targets of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
The Government calculates the cost of carbon emissions to reflect the damage they will do to society, including to agriculture, the effects of extreme weather such as floods and public health.
The study by the NEF suggests that emissions generated by flights arriving and leaving Heathrow via the third runway would generate roughly an equal amount in carbon costs, with a small portion of the £100bn allocated to the emissions generated by building it in the first place.
Heathrow Airport has yet to apply for planning permission for a third runway and will need to show it can meet environmental targets for approval to be granted.
There has been strong opposition to plans for a third runway at Heathrow since 2009, when they were first announced.
The Government is currently working on a ‘Jet Zero’ strategy that will aim to decarbonise the aviation industry specifically.
A spokesperson for Heathrow Airport said: “Reducing carbon emissions from flying has always been a central consideration of our plans to expand Heathrow.
“We have always known that we will have to prove that a new runway is compatible with the UK’s net zero target.
“While our current focus remains on responding to the pandemic, we remain confident that we can expand and meet stringent targets.
“The UK aviation sector was the first in the world to commit to net zero and publish a detailed plan to get there.
“The recent commitment by the whole global aviation sector to net zero and the UK Government’s ambition for 10% sustainable aviation fuel by 2030 are clear steps towards taking the carbon out of flying, even as we grow.”
David Simmonds MP, Hillingdon councillor and co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Airport Communities, said: “This report highlights the need to get the detail right when considering our future aviation picture and the Government’s Jet Zero review.
“We cannot afford to underestimate the implications for major projects such as Heathrow expansion and future generations will not thank us for creating complicated financial mechanisms which won’t do anything to actually help the environment.”