Guest essay by Eric Worrall
Britain’s reputation for regulatory stability just took a hit.
Climate emergency edict in UK to shape decision on Heathrow expansion review
Britain’s net zero by 2050 goal may have impact on whether existing policies are reassessed
Fiona Harvey Environment correspondent
Sat 11 May 2019 15.00 AESTBritain’s move to “net zero” carbon and the declaration of a climate emergency in parliament will be “given careful consideration” in deciding whether to grant a review of Heathrow airport’s expansion, the government has said.
The new approach falls well short of any commitment to review Heathrow’s expansion, but means the decision on whether to grant campaigners’ request for a review will include the net zero target and the climate emergency among its criteria.
Green campaigners welcomed the pledge, which came in a letter to environmental group Plan B. Tim Crosland, director of Plan B, said:
“We’re pleased to see the government is taking seriously our request to review the expansion of Heathrow airport. The government can either take the necessary action to avoid climate breakdown or it can stick to business as usual and expand aviation, but it can’t have it both ways.”
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In the letter to Plan B, seen by the Guardian, Caroline Low, the director of Heathrow expansion and aviation and maritime analysis at the Department for Transport (DfT), wrote: “I can confirm that the department will carefully consider this request [for a review of the airports national policy statement, which includes Heathrow].
“As well as giving careful consideration to the net zero report and the declaration of environment and climate emergency, mentioned in the request, it may be necessary to consider the committee on climate change’s recommended policy approach for aviation … and any relevant decisions taken by the government in the coming months as a result.”
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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/may/11/climate-emergency-edict-in-uk-to-shape-decision-on-heathrow-expansion-review
The message is clear – The British Government no longer welcomes job creating business investment which might lead to greater national CO2 emissions.
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Why if there’s a Climate Change emergency is the UK spending a few billion £ renovating the Houses of Parliament? This building is on the banks of the Thames only a few feet above high tide water level. Surely a new location well above predicted sea levels is needed. Somewhere closer to deprived areas, around Skelmersdale perhaps
Skelmersdale ? That would be a tremendous fillip for the UK umbrella making industry 🙂
As alarming as it first seems, this letter from ‘the Government’ could well be just the standard bureaucratic reply to trouble makers whose case has already been dismissed, both in public and in private.
The article admitted as much when it conceeded that what the letter said was not binding in any way. Remember, politicians (and dependent bureaucrats) hate to actually have to deny or admit to anything that might cost them a single vote.
The Greenies should bar themselves from flying. They should be sailing in renewable wooden ships to travel on water. Land travel should be on foot, or maybe a bicycle made of bamboo or some other material that can be composted. Show us you really believe in saving the planet, not just talk about it.