GMB London, the union for staff at London’s airports, called on Parliament and Government to change the laws to focus on cutting carbon emissions from air transport rather than restricting the ability of a growing London population to travel.  This follows the court ruling that expansion of Heathrow is against current climate change laws.

GMB reiterated it’s comments earlier this month on the commitment by the UK Aviation industry to cut carbon emissions to net zero by 2050. See notes to editors below for copy of previous GMB London press release on this. 

Warren Kenny, GMB London Regional Secretary, said:

“This decision is a direct result of Parliament and Government making climate change laws on the hoof without proper consideration of the true costs of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Parliament urgently needs to revisit the costs of the net zero carbon emissions and alternatives to turning the clock back on what sustains the prosperity of citizens.

In particular, Parliament and government need to go back and change the laws to focus on cutting carbon emissions by the industry rather than cutting the ability of passengers to travel by air.

The Aviation industry says that there is an alternative. The law should reflect this.

Air travel has played a fundamental role in creating our contemporary networked world and restricting connectivity is a very backward step for humanity.

So if this decision stands it is a very backward step for the population of London expected to grow to eleven million people by 2040. It will be negative for the economy of the entire country.

There is no positive way of presenting this unwelcome decision.

Unless the law is changed it will lead to an unwelcome rationing of air travel by a general strategy of pricing of it out of reach of ordinary people. It will be available only to those with way above average incomes.

On the alternative frequent flyer tax it is very difficult to see it how could be operated without the introduction of a central government held data base containing the details of each and every flights taken by all citizens. This would be a very big &quotbig brother&quot step to take – particularly if there are viable other alternatives to avoid such a drastic step.