Govt signals support for Gatwick expansion

Responding to news that the government has set out a pathway for expansion at Gatwick Airport, which would see its capacity increased to operating two fully-functioning runways serving commercial flights, Rosie Downes, head of campaigns at Friends of the Earth, said:

“At a time when we should be doubling down on climate action, given the weather extremes we're seeing globally and near daily warnings that our planet’s health systems are at breaking point, signalling support for Gatwick’s expansion is totally bewildering.

“Expanding Gatwick won’t deliver the growth needed – but it will increase the carbon emissions exacerbating the increasingly severe storms, floods and heatwaves that are costing lives, as well as air pollution and noise for people living nearby. Pressing ahead with airport expansion in the hope that new technologies can magic away these emissions, without the evidence to show they’ll work at scale, is incredibly reckless.

“New analysis this week shows the net zero sector is growing three times faster than the overall UK economy. If the government truly wants to strengthen the economy, then it must put its money where the growth is - in clean energy, green jobs and sustainable transport."

ENDS