The decision by Angela Rayner to approve London City Airport’s expansion plans seems at odds with the Government’s stated commitment to addressing the climate crisis.
Expanding air travel infrastructure, which is inherently carbon-intensive, contradicts the urgent need to reduce emissions and transition towards more sustainable modes of transport.
More effort must instead be directed towards improving and expanding our rail networks, particularly for domestic and short-haul journeys. The focus should be on enhancing these connections to reduce the need for air travel, rather than expanding airport capacity, which only serves to further entrench our reliance on high-carbon modes of transportation.
The decision to move forward with expansion plans like those proposed by Pascall + Watson at some undefined point in the future only raises further concerns. Aside from meaning a rise to about 9m passengers annually, the indefinite nature of these plans adds uncertainty, and further delays the crucial pivot to greener infrastructure investments that are desperately needed. The UK’s climate commitments should be reflected in every aspect of policy-making, particularly in transport, where the environmental impact is so pronounced.
This decision, coming so soon after the General Election, serves not just as a strategic move but as a telling indicator of the Government’s true priorities. It undermines the credibility of their ambitious and supposedly pioneering climate leadership. To truly lead on climate, we must work together towards more visionary and sustainable long-term decisions.
We expect better from the incoming Labour Government.
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