"Airport expansion plans backed by the government are putting the UK's net zero target in serious jeopardy, MPs have warned. Without new safeguards, proposals to enlarge airports including Heathrow and Gatwick could push the UK over its carbon budgets, according to a report from the cross-party Commons environmental audit committee. The MPs said ministers must set out how they are going to meet climate, environment and biodiversity targets while pursuing significant airport expansion and before any of the projects break ground."
"The report also said ministers had ruled out measures to manage demand for aviation, such as limiting the number of flights. The MPs also warned that uptake of sustainable aviation fuel might not help cut emissions because it was not yet being used or produced on a commercial scale. Last year, Air New Zealand scrapped its 2030 decarbonisation target, blaming difficulties in securing sustainable fuel."
Government-backed airport expansion could push the UK beyond its carbon budgets and jeopardize the net zero target without new safeguards. Plans to enlarge airports including Heathrow and Gatwick are expected to increase demand for air travel. Current policies are insufficient to cut aviation sector emissions in line with climate targets. Ministers have ruled out demand-management options such as limiting flights. Uptake of sustainable aviation fuel remains uncertain because it is not yet produced or used at commercial scale. Expansion schemes may begin before the national policy statement on airports is updated, relying on an outdated framework inconsistent with climate and environmental objectives. Economic benefits from expansion have not been demonstrated to outweigh environmental harms.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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