Flying is set to become the UK's largest source of carbon emissions by 2040. Airport expansion is totally reckless in the middle of a climate crisis, and risks us not meeting our climate targets.
It also worsens air and noise pollution, harms local communities and nature.
Demand no more airport expansion
Add your nameWhy should the Government reject Heathrow expansion?
Research by climate scientists from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of Manchester, finds that building a third runway at Heathrow airport would make it impossible to meet our climate targets. The new analysis was commissioned by Friends of the Earth.
15 reasons Heathrow expansion is wrong
The history of our campaign to stop airport expansion
In February 2020, with your support, we scored a huge victory for the planet when the Court of Appeal agreed that plans to build a third runway at Heathrow were illegal. But in December 2020, the Supreme Court overturned the decision, allowing the project to proceed to the next stage.
The Prime Minister had the power to scrap the policy decision to support Heathrow expansion. But in January 2025 the chancellor Rachel Reeves made an announcement backing airport expansion and a third runway at Heathrow, while reducing the nature protections required of developers.
In February 2025 the government set out a pathway for expansion at Gatwick Airport, which would see its capacity increased to operating two fully-functioning runways serving commercial flights. 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.
Benefits will be enjoyed by shareholders and the wealthiest few who fly frequently. Sacrificing nature and our climate isn’t leadership, it’s rash, short-sighted and a sure-fire way to lose the trust of those who believed Labour's election promises on the environment.
Demand no more airport expansion
Add your nameCommunities campaigning against airport expansion
Stop Newcastle airport expansion
Climate Action Newcastle is campaigning against Newcastle Airport's plans to double the number of passengers, extend its terminal and runway, and increase private jet services. The airport's net zero only apply to airport operations, and do not account for the emissions released by the huge number of flights proposed.
Find out more about their campaign to stop airport flights doubling to protect North East jobs, wildlife and futures.
Stop Leeds Bradford airport expansion
West Yorkshire Friends of the Earth groups are joining forces with community group Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport (GALBA). They believe the airport is big enough already, and are campaigning against the proposed scrapping of a cap on night flights, which would enable the airport to expand from 4million to 7million passengers a year.
Stop Heathrow expansion
Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise (HACAN) is a campaigning organisation formed in the 1970s to give a voice to residents under the Heathrow flight paths.
As part of HACAN, Friends of the Earth local action groups in and around West London are gearing up to campaign against Heathrow airport’s plans to build a 3rd runway, to protect our climate and the health and wellbeing of people and nature in and around London.
Stop Gatwick expansion
Communities against Gatwick Noise Emissions (CAGNE) is a network of community groups from the areas surrounding Gatwick airport concerned with the totality of aircraft noise produced by arrivals and departures, environmental issues, airspace and surface access for Sussex, Surrey and Kent.
Stop Bristol airport expansion
Bristol Airport Action Network (BAAN) is a coalition of groups and individuals in Bristol and the South West. They are campaigning against the expansion of Bristol airport including the impact it will have on their lives as passenger number grow, more planes fly at night, and more land is taken for airport-related development.
