This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/17/heathrow-expansion-protest-on-verge-of-victory-says-shadow-chancellor

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Heathrow expansion protest 'on verge of victory', says shadow chancellor Fight against Heathrow expansion on verge of victory, says McDonnell
(32 minutes later)
The campaign against the multi-billion-pound expansion of Heathrow Airport is on the verge of victory, the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, claimed on Thursday, as three appeal court judges considered fresh legal challenges against a third runway. The campaign against the multibillion-pound expansion of Heathrow is on the verge of victory, John McDonnell has claimed, as three court of appeal judges considered fresh legal challenges against a third runway.
McDonnell, who has long been an opponent of expanding the airport in his constituency, said the picture had changed since the last legal challenge in the spring, as the UK had legislated on a net zero emissions target by 2050 and declared a climate emergency. The shadow chancellor, who has long been an opponent of expanding the airport in his constituency, said the picture had changed since the previous legal challenge in the spring, as the UK had legislated for a net-zero emissions target by 2050 and declared a climate emergency.
“I think legislatively things have moved and politically – with the current campaigning by Extinction Rebellion – the pressure is on all politicians to recognise this is a project that cannot stand,” he said. He praised campaigners outside court for their persistent action over many years and said they were on the verge of victory. “I think legislatively things have moved and politically, with the current campaigning by Extinction Rebellion, the pressure is on all politicians to recognise this is a project that cannot stand,” McDonnell said. He praised campaigners outside court for their persistent action over many years.
Friends of the Earth are leading the legal challenges on climate grounds against the third runway, which was approved by parliament last year. The court of appeal is hearing five days of challenges against the expansion, which will put 700 more planes into the air each day. Friends of the Earth is leading the legal challenges on climate grounds against the third runway, which was approved by parliament last year. The court of appeal is hearing five days of challenges against the expansion, which will put 700 more planes into the air each day.
Opening the appeal, Lord Justice Lindblom said the hearing would raise matters of obvious importance, which would be of interest to a national and international audience.Opening the appeal, Lord Justice Lindblom said the hearing would raise matters of obvious importance, which would be of interest to a national and international audience.
Government lawyers will argue the runway can be built without breaching the country’s climate commitment, according to documents submitted to court. Government lawyers will argue the runway can be built without breaching the country’s climate commitment, according to documents submitted to the court.
The high court ruled in May that the government’s decision to allow a third runway was lawful. The appeal court is hearing challenges against this decision from all the parties, who include environmental NGOs, five local authorities, the London mayor and Greenpeace. The high court ruled in May that the government’s decision to allow a third runway was lawful. The court of appeal is hearing challenges against this decision from parties including environmental NGOs, five local authorities, the London mayor and Greenpeace.
David Wolfe QC, for FoE, told the court the then secretary of state for transport, Chris Grayling, had not taken the 2015 Paris Agreement into account when approving the airport expansion. David Wolfe QC, for Friends of the Earth, told the court the then transport secretary, Chris Grayling, had not taken the 2015 Paris agreement into account when approving the airport expansion.
Instead, Grayling limited his consideration of the climate crisis to whether the runway could be made to fit within the existing legal carbon targets of an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas levels by 2050. This would require all other sectors to reduce their emissions by 85%.Instead, Grayling limited his consideration of the climate crisis to whether the runway could be made to fit within the existing legal carbon targets of an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas levels by 2050. This would require all other sectors to reduce their emissions by 85%.
Wolfe said these targets had now risen to a 100% reduction in GHG by 2050 following an amendment to the Climate Change Act this summer, giving further weight to the argument that the expansion goes against the government’s own climate goals. Wolfe said these targets had now risen to a 100% reduction in greenhouse gas levels by 2050 following an amendment to the Climate Change Act this summer, giving further weight to the argument that the expansion goes against the government’s climate goals.
The committee on climate change, the government’s statutory advisor, has warned ministers that aviation would be the biggest source of emissions in the UK by then. The Committee on Climate Change, the government’s statutory advisor, has warned ministers that aviation will be the biggest source of emissions in the UK by then.
Wolfe said the secretary of state should have taken into account the Paris Agreement as well as the other planet-warming gases linked to aviation. “No one can be unaware of the urgent need to tackle climate change,” he said. Wolfe said the transport secretary should have taken into account the Paris agreement as well as planet-warming gases linked to aviation. “No one can be unaware of the urgent need to tackle climate change,” he said.
For the first time, judges will hear arguments that the expansion of Heathrow airport violates the rights of children and future generations who will bear the greatest impact of the climate crisis. WWF was given permission to submit papers alleging a breach of the UN convention on the rights of the child to the appeal court. For the first time, judges will hear arguments that the expansion of Heathrow airport violates the rights of children and future generations, who will bear the greatest impact of the climate crisis. World Wide Fund for Nature was given permission to submit papers alleging a breach of the UN convention on the rights of the child to the court.
The intervention comes after young people spearheaded the biggest climate protest in history last month and Greta Thunberg told world leaders that their inaction was letting down a generation. Willie Walsh, the chief executive of International Airlines Group, which owns British Airways, told a press conference in Toronto this week he believed the £14bn runway was unlikely to go ahead because of a growing backlash over the environment.
Willie Walsh, the chief executive of IAG, which owns British Airways, told a press conference in Toronto this week he believed the £14bn runway was unlikely to go ahead because of a growing backlash over the environment. “I think it is a bigger challenge today than it was a year ago. And I can’t see it getting any easier,” he said.
He said: “I think it is a bigger challenge today than it was a year ago. And I can’t see it getting any easier.” Walsh has been a longtime critic of the cost of the expansion. Critics say the £14bn price tag will balloon to more than £30bn. The two-mile runway will involve the creation of one of the world’s biggest car parks, with capacity for nearly 50,000 vehicles, the reclamation of 385 hectares (950 acres) of land and the demolition of 761 homes. Part of the M25 will need to be moved as part of the plan.
Walsh has been a longtime critic of the cost of the proposed expansion. Critics say the £14bn price tag will balloon to more than £30bn. The two-mile runway will put 700 more planes in the air each day and involve the creation of one of the world’s biggest carparks with capacity for nearly 50,000 cars, the reclamation of 950 acres of land and the demolition of 761 homes. Part of the M25 will also need to be moved as part of the plan. A coalition of local authorities – Wandsworth, Richmond upon Thames, Hillingdon, and Hammersmith and Fulham – along with the mayor of London and Greenpeace, will argue the expansion was flawed because ministers failed to properly consider the full impact of noise levels, health and the environment.
A coalition of local authorities – Wandsworth, Richmond upon Thames, Hillingdon, Hammersmith and Fulham – along with the mayor of London and Greenpeace, will argue in the appeal hearing the expansion was flawed because ministers failed to properly consider the full impact of noise levels, health and the environment. Heathrow said in its consultation documents that expansion should not come at any cost. The airport has outlined plans for low-emissions zones and congestion charges to stem local air pollution.
Heathrow said in its consultation documents that expansion should not come at any cost. The airport outlined plans for low-emission zones and congestion charges to stem local air pollution.
Boris Johnson, who once threatened to lie down in front of the bulldozers to prevent the expansion, has said he will watch the legal challenges with lively interest.Boris Johnson, who once threatened to lie down in front of the bulldozers to prevent the expansion, has said he will watch the legal challenges with lively interest.
A decision is expected in December.A decision is expected in December.
Heathrow third runwayHeathrow third runway
Heathrow airportHeathrow airport
Travel and transportTravel and transport
Air transportAir transport
London
Airline industryAirline industry
news
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content