GALBA describes the airport’s ‘Vision 2030’ as irresponsible

Nick Hodgkinson, Chair of GALBA, said: “LBA’s expansion announcement comes less than a month after the expert Climate Change Committee restated its advice to the government to ‘stop airport expansion without a UK-wide capacity management framework’. The reason we need to manage capacity is simple: more flying means more greenhouse gas emissions but we all know we must radically cut those emissions as fast as possible.”

“At present, the only reliable way to do that is to limit flying by limiting the capacity of airports. One day, there may be clean fuels, used at large scale for all flight distances, which are proven to reduce the greenhouse gases caused by flying. But currently, those fuels only exist at a small scale – some are barely off the drawing board. Right now, the only way to control greenhouse gases from flying is not to fly more planes.”

Ian Coatman, Secretary of GALBA, said: “It’s disappointing that the Mayor doesn’t understand this. It’s also a shame that she doesn’t seem to realise that there is a much better way to support our economy”

“We need to grow the clean industries of the future, like building wind turbines to make renewable electricity and super-insulating peoples’ homes to cut greenhouse gases and energy bills at the same time.”

Ian added: “LBA will have to make a new planning application to Leeds City Council to expand beyond five million passengers a year. When that happens, GALBA will be ready and we will vigorously oppose expansion.”

“We hope that Leeds City Council will make a responsible decision and reject the planning application – for the sake of our children and the health of local residents.”