UK Airports Find Great Way To Cut Climate Impact Of Expanding- Only Count Emissions From Departures!

[hatrack]

The climate impact of expansion plans at regional airports in England has been dramatically underestimated and would threaten the UK’s legally binding commitments, according to a report published ahead of a key summit later this year. The study from the New Economics Foundation (NEF) calculated that proposals to expand four airports in England will lead to an increase in emissions up to eight times higher than previously claimed.

The report also found that plans to expand Bristol, Leeds Bradford, Southampton and Stansted airports had overestimated their economic benefit – ignoring up to £13.4bn worth of climate damage the plans could cause. Alex Chapman, the author of the report, said the findings raised concerns about the level of scrutiny the proposals had received.

EDIT

The report found:

All four airports relied on currently unproven and undeveloped technologies to deliver rapid fuel-efficiency savings over the next few decades.

Three out of the four – Bristol, Leeds Bradford and Stansted – only took account of the climate impact of outbound flights, not the emissions from those arriving at the airport.

Bristol, Leeds Bradford and Stansted did not account for the impact of non-CO2 emissions such as aerosols, water vapour and nitrogen oxides, which can double or even triple the climate impact of airport expansions.

Leeds Bradford, Southampton and Stansted did not put a monetary value on the climate impacts of expansion and have therefore overestimated the projects’ economic benefits in each region.

The expansion plans have already met fierce opposition from local groups, environmentalists and climate scientists over the past 18 months. Last week in a letter to ministers, groups opposing planned expansions said the UK government must suspend all the plans until it sets out how they fit with its legally binding climate targets and the advice of its own experts.

EDIT

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/21/expansion-of-english-airports-could-threaten-climate-commitments-report

[-misanthroptimist]

1. I'm sure that that will totally outsmart atmospheric physics.

Not.

[FBaggins]

2. I'd assume that's how it should be done

If you "count" the impact of the entire flight, then both airports will effectively double the weighed cost of air travel.