Open letter to the Prime Minister, Sir Kier Starmer

Today, GALBA wrote to the Prime Minister urging him to reject plans to expand Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton airports.

Dear Prime Minister

I know that you understand the urgent need to protect our climate because on 27 February 2020, you tweeted: “There is no more important challenge than the climate emergency. That is why I voted against Heathrow expansion.”

The climate crisis has worsened since 2020. So I hope you still understand the paramount need NOT to allow Heathrow, Gatwick or Luton (or any other) airports to expand. The recent reports in the press about this issue are deeply worrying and contradict your own statement that the UK will be a global leader on climate action.

The Climate Change Committee could not be clearer on this matter. They have repeatedly recommended to the current and previous governments to stop all airport expansions unless and until there is a genuine, large scale solution to the aviation industry’s greenhouse gas problem – a solution that is proven to cut emissions from flying.

Labour has made a good start with the clean energy plan but that good work would be undermined if Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton are allowed to expand. Please take a few minutes to read this briefing from the New Economics Foundation for more information. I know you’re very busy, so just look at the conclusion (see below) and the graphs on p1 and p4 for the key points.

Finally, Labour has always been clear that airport expansion proposals should satisfy all four of the party’s tests:

1. Growth supported across the country
2. Noise issues to be addressed
3. Air quality to be protected
4. The UK’s climate change obligations be met

Given the current reality of aviation fuels and technology – and the extreme unlikelihood that zero emission flying will be possible at scale for decades – the proposed expansions of Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton cannot satisfy the fourth test.

I very much hope that you share my views and will pass them on to the decision makers, who I assume are Heidi Alexander and Rachel Reeves.

Thank you

Nick Hodgkinson

Chair of GALBA

 

NEF briefing conclusion

• Airport expansion threatens the UK’s climate ambitions – a view echoed by the Climate Change Committee – and recent proposals would undermine the climate benefit of the government’s clean power plan.
• New capacity created through airport expansion is primarily captured by UK-resident frequent flyers travelling for leisure purposes.
• The economic benefits of airport expansion are often overstated.
• Airport expansion is not required to facilitate business-purposes travel.
• While airport expansion does facilitate growth in inbound foreign tourists, for every inbound tourist generated, three outbound tourists are created.
• Continued incentivisation of outbound air travel is taking household spending away from more productive, foundational sectors of the economy.
• While the air transport sector, as a whole, undoubtedly has contributions to make to the government’s missions for the UK, it is highly unlikely that airport expansion, which primarily increases outbound leisure travel by frequent flyers, offers any growth benefits to the UK.