October 25, 2016

expert reaction to reports that a third runway has been approved for Heathrow airport

Reports are suggesting that the expansion of Heathrow airport, including a third runway, has been approved by ministers.

Prof. Joanna Haigh, Co-Director of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment, and Professor of Atmospheric Physics at Imperial College London, said:

“Expansion at Heathrow, or any other airport, will create a serious obstacle to the UK meeting its greenhouse gas, and air quality, targets. Increased flights, more traffic on roads in and around the airports, and emissions from the new construction will add to an already woeful situation, particularly in London and the South East of England.

“While I appreciate that current business projections suggest the need for more flights, by the time new runways are operating, they could look seriously outdated. Rolling out of the best quality telecommunications networks to all businesses, including fast and reliable internet on trains, could benefit business productivity whilst reducing pollution by greenhouse gases and particles. In addition, low-carbon aviation fuels, new aircraft designs and green alternatives to existing transport systems are just around the corner, thanks to research by brilliant scientists and engineers here in the UK.

“Instead of expanding airports, I feel it would be better to redirect funds to accelerate research and development in clean transport and telecommunications and to prioritise the UK’s responsibilities to air quality and environmental health.”

Dr Marc Stettler, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Imperial College London, said:

“My own view is that Heathrow is better placed to serve growing demand for air travel than Gatwick; it has better transport links to and from the rest of the UK and it currently offers a larger variety of long-haul destinations that will be important in a post-Brexit Britain.

“The reality is that noise and air pollution will continue to impact upon local communities. Noise should be tackled by banning night-time flights, which would be possible with a new runway and was recommended by the Davies Commission. Air pollution should be tackled through an integrated transport strategy for the South East, including HS2, that reduces road traffic emissions on major roads around the airport.

“In terms of climate change, growth in aviation will mean that other sectors of our economy will have to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 80% by 2050 to meet the Climate Change Act. This reiterates the need for an integrated national transport strategy that balances a growth in aviation with reductions in emissions from other forms of transport.”

Declared interests

Dr Stettler: “I have not received any personal or research funding from Heathrow or Gatwick. I have worked with data supplied by a previous project (http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/projects?ref=NE%2FI007172%2F1) but the funding ended before I arrived.”