Heathrow expansion

Question 1

Motives

• To cut CO2

Answer 1

UK legislation commits the government to cut CO2 levels by 80% of 1990 levels in 2050

Question 2

Motives

• EU regulations

Answer 2

UK has been breaching EU limits for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) since 2010

Question 3

What is it?

Answer 3

Proposed third runway now going ahead, the finial vote is put to MPs for a vote in the winter of 2017, a new runway could be operational by 2025

Question 4

What does the plan involve?

Answer 4

The plan involves building a new 3,500m runway about two miles north of the two runways Heathrow already has, at an estimated cost of £17.6bn.

Question 5

Supporters

• Unions

Answer 5

A wide range of unions and business groups welcomed the decision to expand Heathrow, due to the economic benefit to passengers and the wider economy worth up to £61bn and creates as many as 77,000 additional local jobs over the next 14 years.

Question 6

Supporters

• The Airport Commission

Answer 6

“Heathrow expansion will keep the capital and the whole of the UK at the heart of the global economy, meet environment targets and balance the needs of the local communities”

Question 7

Critics

• Boris Johnson

Answer 7

Boris Johnson saying a third runway was “undeliverable”

Question 8

Critics

• Sadiq Khan

Answer 8

Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, said expanding the west London airport was the wrong decision for both London and the UK

Question 9

Critics

• John McDonnell 2015

Answer 9

People are dying from air “poisoned” by the aviation industry, which has “consistently lied” about expanding Heathrow airport

Question 10

Critics

• Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green party

Answer 10

the decision to expand Heathrow airport ‘tramples over the concerns of local people and puts a wrecking ball through the Government’s claim to be concerned about climate change.

Question 11

Plane Stupid facts on carbon budget

Answer 11

The aviation sector threatens to take up most of the safe carbon budget by 2030, and that is without any new runways.

Question 12

Plane Stupid on meeting targets

Answer 12

A new runway at Heathrow make it impossible for the UK to meet climate targets set in the Climate Change Act 2008.

Question 13

Opposition

• West London MPs

Answer 13

Most west London MPs strongly oppose expansion.

Question 14

Environmental compensation

• Green area

Answer 14

The airport has committed to a £105m plan to transform a green area near the airport, into a haven four times the size of Hyde Park

Question 15

Environmental argument

• Marginal NO2 increase

Answer 15

The expansion would only lead to a marginal increase in NO2 from Heathrow as there would be significant reductions elsewhere thanks to changes in diesel engines and greater use of electric vehicles

Question 16

Failures

• Destruction of homes

Answer 16

Destroying 783 homes and most of the village Hamondsworth

Question 17

Environmental challenge

• Climate Change

Answer 17

The biggest environmental challenge of the expansion is the impact on climate change goals. Existing UK legislation commits the government to cut CO2 levels by 80% of 1990 levels in 2050

Question 18

Context

• Aviation emission

Answer 18

Aviation currently accounts 6% of UK emission

Question 19

Measure taken by government to compensate the environmental cost
• Ban on night flights

Answer 19

The government proposes a six-and-a-half hour ban on scheduled night flights for the first time

Question 20

Measure taken by government to compensate the environmental cost
• Cash

Answer 20

£700m pot of cash will be given by government to pay for noise insulation for local residents

Question 21

Measure taken by government to compensate the environmental cost
• Increase noise levy

Answer 21

The should be an increased noise levy to benefit local communities and an independent aviation noise committee should be established with a statutory right to be consulted on operating procedures

Question 22

Labour’s stance on a third runway

Answer 22

The party would back a third runway, despite the reluctance of Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell