Representation by Julian Gannon
- Date submitted
- 21 June 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
The expansion of Luton Airport will result in an increase in Green House Gas emissions from the present 521,741 tCO2e to 983,869 tCO2e by 2043. This is an estimated 80% increase based, amongst other criteria, on the Jet Zero (High Ambition) Strategy. This is a highly flawed estimate since most of the assumptions are based on untested and experimental technologies. Therefore it is highly likely that Luton Airport will exceed these emissions thus making it more of a challenge for the government to reach net zero by 2050. The Jet Zero (High Ambition) Strategy also assumes that CO2 emissions would be reduced by demand side reductions thus reducing the need for airport expansion. If net zero is to be reached by 2050 then significant advances in Carbon Capture technologies would have to be met to allow for an increase in airport capacity. This again is a high risk strategy since this technology, on the scale to make a measurable impact, is in its infancy. I feel that Luton Airport’s assumptions on their CO2 emissions are flawed and the resulting increase in CO2 levels would mean that other sectors of the UK economy would have to make even bigger savings on CO2 emissions to reach net zero by 2050. The Committee on Climate Change has recommended that there should be no expansion of airport capacity. I would have thought that Luton Rising should accept their recommendations even if on this occasion the government have failed to do so. Considering all of these factors the expansion of Luton Airport would have negative impact on the effort to reduce UK CO2 emissions and the future of the airport should be reconsidered.