Plans for the inquiry come against a backdrop that has seen the government signal its support for expansion at Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton airports, and after aviation emissions were last month included in a UK carbon budget – the country’s seventh – for the first time.
Carbon budgets outline how much greenhouse gas emissions the UK can produce in a given four-year period. The sixth budget covers the period from 2033 to 2037 and the seventh from 2038 to 2042.
Energy and net zero secretary Ed Miliband in January said expansion at Heathrow would have to be delivered within the terms set out in the carbon budget.
"It is possible – but very difficult – for the airport expansion programme to be consistent with environmental goals,” said EAC chair Toby Perkins MP.
"This inquiry will offer parliamentarians an opportunity to ensure the public can be confident that by throwing their weight behind airport expansion, they are not damaging the environment for their children and grandchildren,” added EAC member Blake Stephenson MP.
As part of its inquiry, the committee will focus on several areas of concern – including how much the industry will need to cut its CO2 emissions to meet the targets outlined in the sixth carbon budget and consequent ones, how impactful technical innovations and emission trading schemes need to be to help the UK meet its targets, and what arrangements will need to be put in place to make sure climate and environment obligations are met if expansion plans go ahead.
The EAC has invited all stakeholders to send written submissions by 5pm on 24 April, and plans to reveal its findings in autumn. “It is vitally important economic growth is sustainable and that the government’s plans for infrastructure do not sit at odds with environmental commitments,” Stephenson added.
After years of deliberations and delays, Keir Starmer’s government signalled its support for expansion at Heathrow earlier this year when chancellor Rachel Reeves said adding a third runway at Heathrow would increase the country’s GDP by 0.43% by 2050 and create more than 100,000 jobs.
“I can confirm this government supports a third runway at Heathrow and is inviting proposals to be brought forward by the summer,” Reeves said on 29 January.
Over the past couple of months, the Labour government has also cleared plans to bring Gatwick’s standby runway into regular use, with transport secretary Heidi Alexander giving the go-ahead in principle last month – subject to further considerations to be accounted for over the coming months.
A final decision on Gatwick’s plans is now due in late October, while Alexander is expected to make a decision on Luton’s expansion plans in early April.
