A CALL to review plans to build a third runway at Heathrow Airport has been made by a group of campaigners.
Last week, the government published its Jet Zero Strategy, aimed at reducing carbon emissions from the aviation industry.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: “Rather than clipping the sector’s wings, our pathway recognises that decarbonisation offers huge economic benefits.”
While the Back Heathrow group supports this, the Stop Heathrow Expansion group argues that the third runway would generate additional megatonnes of carbon dioxide.
Campaigners are calling on the government to review the proposals to expand the Berkshire-based airport as a result, saying it should be axed.
Justine Bayley, Chair of Stop Heathrow Expansion, said: “We cannot have a third runway at Heathrow and expect the 260,000 additional flights per year to be running off vegetable oils or electric batteries: it’s just not realistic.
“The best thing the Government can do to decarbonise aviation is to abandon plans for a third runway at Heathrow.
“Heathrow is the single largest polluter in the UK … if a third runway is allowed then approximately seven extra megatonnes of carbon dioxide would be added to the 20 megatonnes it already emits annually.
“It would be unconscionable, not to mention illegal, to allow this.”
