Heathrow campaigners said it would be a ‘climate crime’ to expand Heathrow in the light off the new report (1) by Sir Nicholas Stern calling on the Government to take immediate action to tackle climate change. The widely-leaked report, commissioned by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, estimates that unless action to tackle climate change is taken within 10 years it will end up costing the world up to £3.68 trillion.
The Stern Review is expected to carry a lot of weight because it is the first time that a respected economist has attempted to calculate the potential financial cost of global warming. The report is thought to recommend a range of measures to tackle climate change including the use of green taxes.
John Stewart, Chair of HACAN, representing residents under the Heathrow flight path, said, “In the light of this report it would be a climate crime to expand Heathrow. Aviation is the fastest-growing contributor to global warming. And Heathrow is responsible for a third of all the UK’s emissions from aviation. It should now not be a question of if, but when, taxes on aviation are raised in order to dampen down demand.”
Stewart added, “This report shows that the debate is now longer about the environment versus the economy. It makes clear that, because of the huge economic cost of global warming, airport expansion would be bad for both the environment and the economy.”
An early test on whether the Government is prepared to act on the Stern’s work will be its review of the 2003 Aviation White Paper expected at the end of this year. The White Paper predicted there would be a near-trebling in the number of passengers using UK airports by 2030 and expected that up to five new runways would be needed, including a third runway at Heathrow.
Stewart said, “This report should sound the death-knell of a 3rd runway at Heathrow. Indeed, in a sane world it should lead to a reduction in the number of planes using the airport.”
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
(1). The report was commissioned by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown. Sir Nicholas Stern was a former economic adviser to the World Bank. The Stern Review is expected to be officially published on Monday 30th October.
For further information call John Stewart 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650