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Runway 'will break CO2 limit'
Felix Allen24.11.08
BUILDING a third runway at Heathrow would make it "impossible" to meet legally binding targets on air pollution, the head of the Environment Agency watchdog will warn today.
Chris Smith is to give a speech which will heap more pressure on ministers not to approve expansion plans.
Lord Smith, a former Labour culture secretary, will tell his agency's annual conference: "The Government has committed itself to rigorous targets to reduce CO2 emissions 80 per cent by 2050, which now include aviation and shipping. It is impossible to see how they would be achieved if the current plans for a third runway go ahead."
Geoff Hoon, the Transport Secretary, is expected to ignore mounting opposition and give the go-ahead for a third runway next month.
The runway could open in 2020.
Reader views (8)
The obvious breach in the human rights of londoners - poisoning and polluting to suck up to Willie and BAA - is a monumental outrage. The direct action that will result will make Hoon, a man already covered in glory for his disregard for our soldiers safety, is targetting our children and our old people. This expansion beggars belief and I will Fight it with all my capabilities legal, direct action and of course my vote. I was a Labour supporter - no more no more!
- Christian Ball, London, UK
The "CO2 limit" is socialist stupidity based on crap science paid for by socialits.
- Frank, England.
Shock horror a Nu-Labour minister ignoring opposition and voters opinions to force through a pet project. So now the only people in favour of the 3rd runway are BA & BAA. No bias there then...
- Mark, London
This is all part of Nu Labour's swansong, they know they will lose the next election, so they just want to dump on the South-East before they go.
- Martin, Reading, UK
The Govt seem intent on copying Blair's Gulf War approach
- ride roughshod over public opinion
If they do, the only winner will be Willy Walsh in BA.
Its about time we had a government that concentrated upon major issues (ie the long term ones like Airport strategy, Power Supply strategy etc), and stopped p***ing about on trivia that gets the headlines, but makes NO improvements for the populace at large.
- Anon, London
This potentialy could be another example of a government stumbling blindly onwards.1500 characters are not enough to detail the fiascos they have been involved in.
- Mal Read, Lowestoft UK
The point has come when the consensus is that we should not be expanding Heathrow. The only people still calling for expansion are those who expect to profit directly from it. No one seriously believes that pollution limits can be met if expansion goes ahead.
The government needs to listen to its own advisors, Backbench MPs and the public and stop listening to the aviation industry who will tell them anything in order to increase their profits and restrict competition.
- Rich, London
If Government ministers deliberately breaks environmental legislation to keep BAA happy then they will deserve to be sued personally.
- Ben Simmonds, London SE5
