Heathrow third runway would 'spike global warming emissions by 30% from airport even with eco-fuel for planes'

Rachel Reeves has argued that developments successful sustainable aviation substance (SAF) mean that the Government tin backmost airdrome enlargement portion inactive gathering its nett zero legally binding commitments.

But Dr Rick Lupton, a elder lecturer successful the University of Bath’s Department of Mechanical Engineering who specialises successful modelling uncertain dynamic systems, has formed doubts connected the apt interaction of SAF that the Government is claiming arsenic it has swung down airdrome enlargement successful its dash for economical growth.

With Heathrow readying to summation the fig of flights a twelvemonth from 480,000 to 720,000 oregon more, helium stressed: “Allowing much flights is incompatible with our request to trim c emissions, and our commitments to bash so.”

Dr Lupton explained further: “Heathrow’s investigation of the enlargement expects a 50% summation successful flights by 2040, which volition origin much emissions and clime change.

“The Chancellor’s suggested solution for this is sustainable aviation substance (SAF), but this is presently costly and produced successful constricted quantities, and isn’t expected to regenerate a bulk of the existent fossil-fuel based aviation substance utilized immoderate clip soon.

“Even if the government’s caller mandate of utilizing 10% SAF by 2030 and 22% by 2040 was afloat met, and taking the Chancellor’s fig that SAF reduces emissions by 70% compared to fossil fuels, this volition inactive pb to an summation of emissions from flights of astir 30%.

“This is wholly the incorrect direction, astatine a clip erstwhile wide earthy disasters amusement we request to bash much to chopped emissions, not summation them.”

Sir Keir Starmer’s government, with its Commons bulk of 163 volition easy beryllium capable to propulsion the plans for airdrome enlargement done the Commons.

Ms Reeves says improvements successful sustainable aviation substance person “changed things”.

She besides said that now: “If plans came guardant again astatine Leeds Bradford I would enactment expansion.”

The Chancellor has emphasised that the Supreme Court backed the Government’s airdrome strategy and a 3rd runway successful 2020, ruling against environmentalists.

At the time, the apical judges enactment important value connected the views of the UK’s Climate Change Committee, the Government’s advisers connected planetary warming.

The CCC is present emphasising “there should beryllium nary nett airdrome enlargement unless the carbon-intensity of aviation is outperforming the Government’s emissions simplification pathway and tin accommodate the further demand”.

A Heathrow spokesperson said: “We person ever been wide that a 3rd runway astatine Heathrow would lone beryllium delivered wrong strict tests connected carbon, sound and aerial quality.”

He highlighted different moves to trim biology harms including airspace change, efficiencies from newer aircraft, changes to operational procedures, electrification connected the crushed and electric-power aircraft.