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Heathrow decision postponed
4 December 2008
Responding to today's postponement of a Government decision on expanding Heathrow until January 2009, Friends of the Earth's aviation campaigner, Richard Dyer, said;
"Hopefully Ministers are beginning to wake up to the massive environmental consequences of allowing airports to expand."
"Under the Climate Change Act, which was passed last month, the Government is legally required to slash UK greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050."
"Building new runways will cause a huge increase in emissions that will make it all but impossible to meet our targets for tackling climate change."
"The Government must review its entire aviation strategy and invest in alternatives to short-haul flights such as fast rail travel."
Notes:
1. On 26 November 2008 the Climate Change Act became UK law, committing the country to cutting its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent of 1990 levels by 2050 - and making this country the first in the world to introduce a legally-binding framework for cutting emissions.
The campaign for this ground-breaking piece of legislation, which should put the UK at the forefront of international efforts to tackle climate change, was led by Friends of the Earth through The Big Ask climate campaign which was supported by 200,000 people and Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke.
2. Scientists warn that urgent cuts in greenhouse gas emissions are
required in order to avoid the severe impacts that a greater than 2°C temperature increase would bring.
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Dec 2008
