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Aviation is the fastest-growing source of greenhouse gases leading to climate change.
Heathrow Airport contributes a third of the UK’s aviation emissions. Flights from Heathrow already pump as much carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere as five million cars every year.
Yet the Government's aviation expansion plans include building a third runway at Heathrow.
This will mean a 70% increase in passengers by 2030. It will make the UK's targets on climate change virtually impossible to meet.
Biggest ... but not best
Heathrow is the world's busiest international airport.
It is also one of the world's most poorly sited airports. It was built in a heavily populated area and is surrounded by houses on three sides.
Planes fly overhead 24 hours a day causing serious health and social problems.
Find out more about the local impacts of Heathrow expansion.
Sign the petition against the expansion of Heathrow
Heathrow Terminal 5 - Why it must be the last airport expansion
(PDF† - 236K) March
2008
Friends of the Earth's media response to the Opening of Terminal 5 at Heathrow.
Friends of the Earth submission to the Government's Heathrow Consultation
(PDF† - 466K) March 2008
Our response to the consultation focuses on challenging the assumptions on which the Government’s growth forecasts and economic case for expansion are based. It asks why a Strategic Environmental Assessment of the proposals hasn’t been made and examines the long term climate change implications of the Government’s assumptions and consequent expansion policy.
Heathrow expansion - its true costs
(PDF† - 134K) February 2008
The Government argues in its Heathrow consultation that economic benefits are the main reason for expanding Heathrow airport.
The consultation presents this economic case as a given. However, this economic case is flimsy in the extreme. This briefing presents five main arguments why it should not be accepted.
Pie in the Sky
(PDF† - 419K) Sep
2006
Summary
report (PDF† - 66K)
This briefing shows how the economic costs of aviation expansion outweigh the benefits claimed by Government and the industry.
Aviation in a Low Carbon EU
(PDF† - 1.27MB) Sep 2007
Summary report (PDF† - 295K)
Research by the Tyndall Centre at Manchester University shows how inclusion of aviation in the EU ETS will have little impact on growing aviation emissions.
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Image: © Nick Cobbing/Friends of the Earth
