Friends of the Earth call for 'Government to get serious about tackling climate change'
Marking today's opening of Heathrow's Terminal 5 to passengers, Nic Ferriday , spokesperson for West London Friends of the Earth, called for the new terminal to mark the end of the airport's expansion.
He said, "Aviation is a one of the fastest growing sources of UK carbon emissions. If the Government is serious about tackling climate change the opening of Terminal 5 must mark the end of airport expansion in Britain.
"Further expansion of Heathrow would be environmentally irresponsible and isn't necessary for the economy of London. The Government must abandon its plans for a third runway and Terminal 6. It should invest in fast rail links and ensure that Britain's share of international aviation emissions is included in its new climate change law."
Terminal 5 History
Terminal 5 was opened by the Queen on March 14th 2008 but it opens to passengers on Thursday March 27th. It is the latest in a series of expansions to Heathrow and further growth is planned.
Terminal 5 cost BAA £4.3 billion to build. It will allow Heathrow to handle 480,000 flights per year. It has 60 aircraft stands and will handle 30 million passengers per year, 40 per cent of all those using Heathrow. Initially, British Airways will be the sole user of the new terminal.
More expansion to come?
As far as BAA and the Government are concerned, T5 is not the end of the story. The Government's 2003 Aviation White Paper gave support to both a third runway and a sixth terminal which would enable Heathrow to handle more than 700,000 flights per year `subject to strict environmental conditions'. A public consultation on these plans has just closed and the Government will make a final decision this summer. In addition, BAA has publicly stated their view that a fourth runway and Terminal 7 may be required in future.
Climate change implications of airport expansion
Aviation is a fast rising source of carbon emissions. It currently represents 6.4 per cent of UK carbon dioxide emissions or 13 per cent of total climate damage. A study by the respected and independent Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research in 2005 found that - even allowing for technological improvements - if current growth continues, aviation could use up the UK's entire carbon `allowance' by 2050. Departing flights from Heathrow alone are responsible for 18 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year or 3.1per cent of total UK emissions.
For the UK to play its part in preventing dangerous climate change, scientists increasingly agree that UK emissions must be reduced on a steady trajectory to at least 80 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050. The Government says that emissions from aviation can rise if other sectors compensate by cutting theirs, but to date this has not been achieved.
The Climate Change Bill and aviation
The Government is currently piloting its Climate Change Bill through Parliament. This will require the UK to significantly cut its carbon dioxide emissions (by at least 60 per cent - though the Government is now considering cuts of 80 per cent) by 2050. But bizarrely this target doesn't include the UK's share of international aviation and shipping emissions. This is rather like going on a calorie-controlled diet and ignoring calories from chocolate. Clearly if the Government is serious about tackling global warming it must be included.
The flawed economic case for further expansion
The Government claims that further expansion of Heathrow is essential for the UK economy. It argues that UK economic interests will be damaged if the airport isn't expanded in order to compete with other major European hub airports.
The Government estimates that the net economic benefit of building a third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow will be around £5 billion. But there are major flaws in the Government's case. Indeed calculations by Friends of the Earth show that the reality is that rather than creating economic benefits, expansion would lead to a £3 billion cost.
West London Friends of the Earth
March 27, 2008