A new report from MPs has criticised the UK government’s approach to managing the environmental impact of aviation while supporting airport expansion. The report argues that it risks putting the UK’s net zero targets in “serious jeopardy.”
The cross-party Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has warned that current policies are not sufficient to reduce emissions from aviation in line with the UK’s legally binding carbon budgets. Its report, ‘Airport expansion and climate and nature targets,’ concludes that allowing airport growth under existing conditions will make achieving environmental goals significantly more difficult and more expensive.
While ministers argue that expanding airport capacity can support economic growth, the Committee found that the government has not presented robust evidence to show that the economic benefits would outweigh the environmental costs. Approvals already granted for expansion at Stansted, Luton and Gatwick were cited as examples of decisions made without a sufficient evidence base.
The report also raises concerns that the government’s Jet Zero Strategy relies heavily on future technological developments, such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), to deliver large carbon savings. The MPs note that these technologies have yet to be proven at commercial scale and that the projected costs of emission abatement are significantly higher than current levels.
Ministers have rejected measures to limit air travel demand, such as capping the number of flights, which the Climate Change Committee has previously identified as a potential tool to reduce emissions. The EAC said the government must explain what alternative measures it plans to use to stay within environmental limits.
MPs also criticised the government for proceeding with expansion before updating the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS), which dates back to 2018. The Committee said relying on an outdated framework means expansion plans are not being properly assessed against current climate and nature targets.
The report calls on the government to clarify how it will meet its climate, environmental and biodiversity commitments while pursuing airport expansion. It recommends setting this out alongside the forthcoming update to the ANPS, and before any further major expansion projects progress.
EAC Chair Toby Perkins MP said:Expanding airport capacity is likely to make that task much harder. Under the government’s existing Jet Zero Strategy, expanding airport capacity is likely to put net zero at serious risk, unless it is accompanied by a serious strategic approach to increasing the pace of decarbonising aviation.
Having ruled out the kind of demand management measures likely to seriously reduce emissions, ministers need to make clear what alternative tools they are willing to use to ensure targets are met. New technological developments are promising and may in time provide an alternative route forward. But are they yet ready to be the basis for justifying this level of aviation expansion?
The Committee concluded that without a more coherent strategy, the government risks undermining both its climate targets and the credibility of its broader net zero commitments.
