A dramatic intervention from Parliament's Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has thrown the government's airport expansion strategy into turmoil. MPs are demanding an immediate moratorium on all major airport development until ministers can conclusively demonstrate how such growth aligns with the UK's legally binding climate commitments.
The Gatwick Controversy
The report casts a particularly harsh light on the proposed expansion of Gatwick Airport in West Sussex. The committee has expressed profound scepticism that the project's climate impact can be adequately managed, questioning the viability of the technologies and fuels it relies upon to meet net-zero goals.
This isn't a mere suggestion; it's a direct challenge to the government's current approach. The EAC has declared that the "Aviation Decarbonisation Strategy" is insufficient and relies too heavily on unproven future innovations rather than concrete, actionable plans.
Key Recommendations from the Report
- Impose a moratorium on major airport expansion until a robust, government-approved capacity management framework is in place.
- Require all airports to clearly demonstrate how they will operate within the UK's legally binding carbon budgets.
- Reject expansion proposals, like Gatwick's, that depend on "over-optimistic assumptions" about sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and zero-carbon aircraft.
- Develop a coherent national strategy that balances economic benefits with environmental imperatives.
A Clash of Priorities
The findings highlight a fundamental tension between economic growth and environmental responsibility. While the aviation industry argues expansion is crucial for connectivity and trade, the committee warns that unchecked growth could undermine the UK's climate leadership and legal obligations.
This puts the government in a difficult position, caught between industry pressure and parliamentary scrutiny. The EAC's message is clear: the era of airport expansion without stringent, verifiable climate conditions is over.
