Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the implications of the expected increase in passenger numbers following the proposed expansion of Heathrow Airport on the Government's target for net-zero emissions by 2050.

The Government recognises that climate change is one of the most urgent and pressing challenges we face. Aviation needs to play its part in reaching net zero emissions and the Government is committed to setting a clear and appropriate level of ambition for the aviation sector.

The Committee on Climate Change published its recommended approach to international aviation emissions on 24 September 2019. We are carefully considering this advice and we will respond to it when we publish a consultation on aviation and climate change shortly.

The Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) was designated as government policy in June 2018 following an overwhelming majority in the House of Commons, but the Government is clear that expansion cannot come at any cost.

The ANPS includes strict environmental requirements that must be met. In regard to climate change, the ANPS requires an applicant for development consent to demonstrate that it would not materially impact the UK’s ability to meet its carbon reduction targets, or expansion will not be able to proceed.