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Airports: Carbon Emissions

Asked by Wendy ChamberlainLiberal DemocratDepartment for TransportTabled Answered 18 March 2025UIN 36775

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of airport expansion on the ability of the UK to meet its net zero targets.

Answered by Mike Kane

The government is committed to reaching net zero by 2050 and meeting our climate change obligations, as set out in the Climate Change Act. Delivering greener transport to help make Britain a clean energy superpower is a Department for Transport priority.

We have been clear that any airport expansion proposals will need to demonstrate they contribute to economic growth and can be delivered in line with the UK’s legally binding climate change commitment.

DfT analysis shows that we can achieve aviation net zero 2050 under a range of assumptions about future technology development without the Government needing to intervene directly to limit airport expansion.

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