Time for ‘Greenest Government ever’ to honour its promises

The Government’s long-awaited new aviation policy framework was published in draft form today [12 July 2012]. Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) will now need to consider this in detail and formulate a response to the Government in due course.

SSE’s key message to the Government is that future aviation policy must be built around quality of life and climate change considerations and that the Government should not pander to the vested interests of the aviation industry who simply argue for expansion at all costs. We expect the Prime Minister to honour his promise that this will be the “Greenest Government ever”.

A key aspect of this will be to keep aviation emissions in 2050 at the 2005 level of 37.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) as recommended by the Government’s own Committee on Climate Change (CCC) and to include aviation emissions in the UK’s national carbon budgets. SSE Chairman Peter Sanders commented: “This will inevitably mean that unbridled expansion will no longer be the order of the day for the aviation industry.”

SSE will also expect the Government to fulfil its promises at a local level by adopting policies to reduce the impacts of airports upon the local environment and local communities.

Peter Sanders added: “Stansted Airport is located in what is otherwise a tranquil rural area and so it is not surprising that aircraft noise is the main issue for most people, particularly aircraft noise disturbance at night. We will therefore be pressing the Government to implement a much stronger noise policy – including clear progress towards a total ban on night flights.”