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UK Climate Advisers: Heathrow Growth Imperils Net Zero
16 Sep
Summary
- Heathrow expansion conflicts with UK climate targets, advisers state.
- Airlines must fully account for emissions for growth to occur.
- Net zero aviation strategy needed for sustainable expansion.
Britain's climate advisers have determined that expanding London's Heathrow Airport cannot align with the country's net zero emissions goal by 2050. The Climate Change Committee (CCC) has advised the government that significant policy changes are required.
Specifically, the CCC recommends legislation to ensure the aviation industry fully addresses its emissions by 2050. This could be achieved through greater adoption of sustainable aviation fuel or engineered carbon removal credits, neither of which is currently scaled sufficiently.
The committee also called for a detailed 25-year strategy for achieving net-zero aviation. Implementing the full cost of decarbonization for airlines and preparing contingency plans are also crucial steps advised by the CCC.
