The Airports Commission has today held
its first public evidence session, on climate change and on
connectivity, in Manchester. The AEF (Aviation Environment
Federation) and WWF UK gave evidence on climate, and Brian Ross from
SSE (Stop Stansted Expansion) gave evidence on connectivity. The
second public evidence session takes place tomorrow, in London, with
two sessions on operational models of airport. (It may still be
possible to attend, but it is necessary to email the Commission
beforehand to obtain a place. To
david.elvy@airports.gsi.gov.uk ).
The many and various airport/runway
proposals to the Airports Commission have to be in by 19th July, so
a little flurry of publicity is expected next week. There may be
around 30 proposals for 5 sites. The Commission has said it will
publish all these on its website in September.
The Commission's most recent discussion
paper, expected to be the last, has been put out for consultation.
It is on noise. The deadline for comment is the 6th September. It
is not a technically difficult paper, so it is possible for
non-experts to comment - though the timescale is rather short, and
right over the main summer holiday period.
Aviation noise,
A group of representatives from some of
the airport community groups recently met the Airports Commission.
They strongly argued the case that due to future use of larger
aircraft, airport capacity requirements can be met, even with a
larger number of passengers. They urged the Airports Commission to
set out the case for ‘no new runway’ as one of the options, and to
publish that alongside the short-list of new runway plans that they
are due to publish in December.
Very recently there has been a letter
sent from the Chairman of the Committee on Climate Change, Lord
Deben, to Sir Howard Davies (Chairman of the Airports Commission,
reminding him that UK aviation demand can only grow by at most 60%
by 2050. Many of the more exuberant aspirations of the aviation
industry anticipate much more growth than that. But Lord Deben
reminds Sir Howard that the rest of the UK economy is expected to
cut its carbon emissions by more than 85% (compared to 1990) by
2050, while the aviation sector merely has to keep its emissions to
their level in 2005. And thus, if the aviation sector is permitted
to increase the number of passengers by more than 60% of 2005 levels
by 2050, the rest of the UK would have to make even greater cuts
than 85% - which the CCC does not believe is likely.
Lord Deben ends his letter saying:
"Given the need to limit aviation demand growth in a carbon
constrained world, we recommend that this should be reflected in
your economic analysis of alternative investments. For example, for
each investment, you should assess whether this would make sense if
demand growth were to be limited to 60% by 2050. We would be very
happy to come and discuss these issues with you and the Commission
if that would be useful."
http://www.theccc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/CCC_letter_aviation_commission.pdf
Page 2
- Committee on Climate Change reminds Airports Commission of carbon
restriction on aviation growth
- From John Stewart, Chair of AirportWatch
Page 3
- Waiting on Heathrow’s Runway Decision ...
- Heathrow report backing its case to grow as UK hub – but it would
need public funding for expansion
- 3rd runway would kill historic opportunity to improve noise
climate for Heathrow residents
Page 4
- Aviation Noise discussion paper launched by Airports Commission
- Airports Commission holding public evidence sessions on 9th & 10th
July on climate, connectivity and operational models
- Local airport campaigns issue unanimous message to Airports
Commission – no new south east runways are needed
Page 5
- CAA produces its consultation on its statutory duty to provide
information (including environmental information)
- Birmingham Airport adverts and plan for growth, up to 70 million
passengers per year, new business park etc etc
Page 6
- Southend Airport campaign: SAEN asks for help with legal challenge
to night flights
- Over 1,000 claims for compensation from Southend Airport due to
loss in value of homes, because of aircraft noise
Page 7
- Bigger terminal at revamped Southend Airport – now with increased
numbers of Thomson and First Choice flights
- GACC warns of widespread blight being caused by runway proposals
submitted to Airports Commission
- GACC submits response to Airports Commission discussion on airport
operational models
Page 8
- Newcastle Airport in Court of Appeal over blame for excessive
bonus payments
- European Aviation Campaigners’ Conference - and Manifesto
- European Commission consults on state aid
Page 9
- European Commission defends €3bn annual subsidies for airports and
low-cost airlines
- Nantes continues protesting ...with a huge summer gathering on
3rd/4th August
- Hogg Robinson reports more business trips being made by rail
including Eurostar
Page 10
- Redhill Aerodrome hard runway plans rejected
- Carlisle airport resurfacing & freight centre still held up by
High Court ruling
- Update from the No Estuary Airport Campaign
Page 11
- World Bank study shows carbon footprint of First Class passengers
can be up to 9 times that in Economy
- Questions asked by London Assembly about the BA plane with a
burning engine flying over millions of Londoners
- The 50,000 mile journey of Wimbledon’s tennis balls during their
production
Page 12
- ABTA publicises report, to be submitted to Airports Commission, on
value of leisure aviation to UK economy
- Total and Amyris working on jet fuel from GM yeasts using
sugarcane
- Siemens & LanzaTech to develop fuel from steel industry waste CO2
& CO
- Useful Info