Abandon Runway Plans! (Saffron Walden Constituency Liberal Democrats)

Saffron Walden Constituency Liberal Democrats <info@saffronwaldenlibdems.org.uk>

Abandon Runway Plans!

September 26, 2005 11:00 PM

Cllr Mark Gayler, Leader of Uttlesford District Council

Local Liberal Democrats have again called on the Government to review its Airports Policy and abandon proposals for a second runway at Stansted Airport. This follows a new report from climate scientists outlining the scale of greenhouse gas pollution produced by aviation. They have also pledged to join a new coalition called "Stop Climate Chaos".

The Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research said aircraft pollution meant that all UK householders, motorists and businesses would have to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions to zero to meet government targets. The centre's report shows that even if aviation's growth is halved, the rest of the economy will require carbon dioxide cuts far beyond government targets for 2050.

The Lib Dem Leader of Uttlesford District Council, Mark Gayler, commented "If the Government is serious about tackling climate change then it has to realise that it cannot allow the growth in aviation to continue unabated. Allowing further runways in the South East will contribute to global warming, and ultimately result in widespread flooding in East Anglia, and more of the severe weather we have seen in Louisiana and Texas. This new report says that the only alternative to cutting the growth in air transport is to stop using electricity and never go anywhere by car."

Thaxted Lib Dem Cllr Martin Foley added "I welcome the commitment of Government ministers to consider taxes on aviation fuels and including air travel in international trading schemes, but we need action not words. If they are serious about dampening the demand for air travel then the logical conclusion is that they should abandon their support for a second runway at Stansted."