According to The Telegraph, the government will reject the Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) formal recommendation that all airport expansions should be paused.
Ministers are reported to believe airport growth will have a key role in boosting the UK’s global links and helping grow the economy.
But rejecting the advice of the CCC, which was set up to hold the government to account over its efforts to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG), could set the government up for major legal challenges from a number of environmental groups.
Bristol and Southampton are among those preparing to up their capacity after legal challenges against their expansions failed, while London City, Gatwick and Heathrow look to embark on expansion projects.
In June, a report from the CCC found the UK will need to quadruple its environmental efforts to meet its 2030 climate goals.
