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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/oct/14/aviation-industry-claims-meet-pollution-limits-heathrow-third-runway
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| Aviation industry claims it can meet pollution limits in pitch for new runway | Aviation industry claims it can meet pollution limits in pitch for new runway |
| (7 months later) | |
| A bullish aviation industry seeking a new runway in south-east England has argued it can meet stringent carbon, noise and pollution limits if the government helps with incentives, provided aircraft engine and biofuel technologies improve as expected. | A bullish aviation industry seeking a new runway in south-east England has argued it can meet stringent carbon, noise and pollution limits if the government helps with incentives, provided aircraft engine and biofuel technologies improve as expected. |
| MPs on the environmental audit committee grilled Andy Jefferson, the director of the industry body Sustainable Aviation, putting it to him that an enlarged industry would breach legal limits and force other sectors to reduce their carbon emissions disproportionately. | MPs on the environmental audit committee grilled Andy Jefferson, the director of the industry body Sustainable Aviation, putting it to him that an enlarged industry would breach legal limits and force other sectors to reduce their carbon emissions disproportionately. |
| “We accept there are challenges, but we believe we can get it right,” said Jefferson. “A mix of carbon [trading] and new aircraft technology could achieve a 50% reduction in [UK aviation industry] emissions by 2050. We are starting to see the A380 and Boeings which are 20% more efficient. The next technological revolution is expected 2030-2040. This is is realistic and achievable.” | “We accept there are challenges, but we believe we can get it right,” said Jefferson. “A mix of carbon [trading] and new aircraft technology could achieve a 50% reduction in [UK aviation industry] emissions by 2050. We are starting to see the A380 and Boeings which are 20% more efficient. The next technological revolution is expected 2030-2040. This is is realistic and achievable.” |
| But under questioning from the London mayoral candidate and Tory MP Zac Goldsmith, who has strongly opposed expansion at Heathrow, he accepted that a reduction in carbon emissions could mean more noise. | But under questioning from the London mayoral candidate and Tory MP Zac Goldsmith, who has strongly opposed expansion at Heathrow, he accepted that a reduction in carbon emissions could mean more noise. |
| Jefferson said: “We accept the industry must grow within carbon limits. But there is a tradeoff between noise and carbon. It’s the way planes are built. The challenge is to be low noise, low carbon and low emissions.” | Jefferson said: “We accept the industry must grow within carbon limits. But there is a tradeoff between noise and carbon. It’s the way planes are built. The challenge is to be low noise, low carbon and low emissions.” |
| Asked to clarify whether lower emissions potentially meant more noise, Jefferson said: “It would be slightly more.” | Asked to clarify whether lower emissions potentially meant more noise, Jefferson said: “It would be slightly more.” |
| He said the industry also accepted there had to be strict sound limits because research showed that aircraft noise directly affected people’s health. A meeting with the World Health Organisation had suggested that the problem was a mixture of the volume of noise, the time it was emitted and its tone. | He said the industry also accepted there had to be strict sound limits because research showed that aircraft noise directly affected people’s health. A meeting with the World Health Organisation had suggested that the problem was a mixture of the volume of noise, the time it was emitted and its tone. |
| The industry backed a carbon trading scheme but Jefferson said he did not know what effect a strong carbon price might have on ticket prices. “I don’t have the figures. But it would be a dramatic change if passengers pay the fee. A strong carbon price is going to reduce emissions. But go too far and there are consequences,” he said. | The industry backed a carbon trading scheme but Jefferson said he did not know what effect a strong carbon price might have on ticket prices. “I don’t have the figures. But it would be a dramatic change if passengers pay the fee. A strong carbon price is going to reduce emissions. But go too far and there are consequences,” he said. |
| With government support and incentives, he said that Britain could develop an important aviation biofuel industry, able to employ 4,500 people by 2030 and capable of manufacturing 4.5m tonnes of aviation fuel a year from waste gases by 2050. | With government support and incentives, he said that Britain could develop an important aviation biofuel industry, able to employ 4,500 people by 2030 and capable of manufacturing 4.5m tonnes of aviation fuel a year from waste gases by 2050. |
| “That would reduce CO2 emissions by 25%. But policy incentives are not strong. Whereas the US has four plants manufacturing aviation biofuels, Britain has none. Globally over 25,000 flights have been made on sustainable fuels. It’s a challenge, but a lot of great innovation is going overseas,” he said. | “That would reduce CO2 emissions by 25%. But policy incentives are not strong. Whereas the US has four plants manufacturing aviation biofuels, Britain has none. Globally over 25,000 flights have been made on sustainable fuels. It’s a challenge, but a lot of great innovation is going overseas,” he said. |
| The MPs were meeting in response to the Airports Commission’s recommendation in June that a third runway should be built at Heathrow. | The MPs were meeting in response to the Airports Commission’s recommendation in June that a third runway should be built at Heathrow. |
| The commission, which was chaired by Howard Davies, said the expansion should only take place if the airport could meet stringent conditions on noise and air pollution. The MPs are due to question Heathrow airport officials later. | The commission, which was chaired by Howard Davies, said the expansion should only take place if the airport could meet stringent conditions on noise and air pollution. The MPs are due to question Heathrow airport officials later. |
| The £17bn expansion plan would mean 250,000 more flights a year, providing a £150bn boost to GDP over 60 years and 70,000 new jobs – but would mean demolishing 783 homes, including most of the village of Harmondsworth. | The £17bn expansion plan would mean 250,000 more flights a year, providing a £150bn boost to GDP over 60 years and 70,000 new jobs – but would mean demolishing 783 homes, including most of the village of Harmondsworth. |