U.K. Court Of Appeal Says Runway 'Unlawful' Under Paris Climate Accord

The U.K. Court of Appeal has issued a ruling that a third runway at Heathrow Airport is "unlawful" because of the country's commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement.

In a statement, Minister for Transport The Honorable Grant Shapps said that according to the court ruling, the previous government did not take account of the Paris Agreement, non-CO2 emissions and emissions post 2050 when it approved the third runway plan.

"We have always been clear that Heathrow expansion is a private sector project which must meet strict criteria on air quality, noise and climate change, as well as being privately financed, affordable, and delivered in the best interest of consumers. The government has taken the decision not to appeal this judgment. The promoters of the scheme will be able to seek permission from the Supreme Court to appeal if they wish," MP Shapps wrote.

"As part of its judgment, the court has declared that the Airports National Policy Statement is of no legal effect unless and until the government carries out a review under the Planning Act 2008.

"The court’s judgment is complex and requires careful consideration. We will set out our next steps in due course."

A spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Jonson told the newspaper The Independent that the Prime Minister will not appeal the decision. As the Mayor of London, Johnson had been opposed to the Heathrow expansion.

But while the government will not appeal the ruling, Heathrow Airport said in a statement that it plans to continue to push for the third runway.

“The Court of Appeal dismissed all appeals against the government - including on “noise” and “air quality” - apart from one which is eminently fixable.  We will appeal to the Supreme Court on this one issue and are confident that we will be successful," a Heathrow spokesperson said in a statement posted on the airport website. "In the meantime, we are ready to work with the Government to fix the issue that the court has raised.  Heathrow has taken a lead in getting the U.K. aviation sector to commit to a plan to get to Net Zero emissions by 2050, in line with the Paris Accord. Expanding Heathrow, Britain’s biggest port and only hub, is essential to achieving the Prime Minister’s vision of Global Britain. We will get it done the right way, without jeopardising the planet’s future. Let’s get Heathrow done.”

(Image provided by Heathrow Airport. Source: News Releases and as cited)

FMI: www.gov.uk
www.heathrow.com
The Independent