CCC: Heathrow expansion could push flights to ‘80% of UK emissions by 2050’
Aviation is on track to be responsible for 80% of the UK’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2050, according to… The post CCC: Heathrow expansion could push flights to ‘80% of UK emissions by 2050’ appeared first on Carbon Brief .
The Climate Change Committee (CCC) has warned that aviation may account for 80% of the UK's CO2 emissions by 2050, primarily due to rising passenger numbers. Despite efforts to reduce emissions in other sectors, aviation emissions have more than doubled since 1990. The UK government's support for expanding Heathrow, the country's largest airport, has raised concerns, as even without expansion, aviation emissions are projected to reach 38 million tonnes of CO2 by 2050 – representing most of the remaining CO2 in the UK economy.
Heathrow expansion would add an additional 2.4 million tonnes of CO2 in 2050, equating to around 5% of all UK emissions. The CCC argues that the current lack of credible policies to reduce aviation emissions, coupled with the potential expansion, would compound the problem of surpassing the UK's net-zero targets. The committee emphasizes the need for a new, robust net-zero strategy for aviation, which is expected by 2027.
This strategy should incorporate policies based on the "polluter pays" principle, requiring the aviation industry to fund its own sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) and CO2 removal technologies, such as engineered removal methods like direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS). These technologies are vital for permanently removing aviation-related CO2 emissions.
While the CCC acknowledges that such decarbonisation costs may lead to higher ticket prices, it views this as preferable to a public funding approach, which would burden a significant portion of the population who do not fly.
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