South East MEP Adds Voice To ‘Biggest Ever’ Campaign Against Heathrow Expansion
30 October 2007 - Green Party Euro-MP Caroline Lucas has added her voice to a high profile campaign aimed at halting the expansion of Heathrow Airport.
Dr Lucas, who drafted the European Parliament’s preferred option for tackling flights’ growing contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, said further expansion of Heathrow flies in the face of Government promises on climate change, and will increase local air pollution and traffic congestion, as well as reducing the quality of life for as many as two million people in South-East England and West London.
She said: "This Government’s support for the expansion of airports up and down the country makes a mockery of its claims to be taking serious action on climate change.
"Aviation is the fastest growing contributor to the greenhouse gas emissions that are fuelling climate change and it is simply incompatible with the UK’s promises to cut overall emissions.
"Further expansion at Heathrow must be halted as part of a shift in transport and economic policy away from those sectors which are part of the problem rather than the solution. Otherwise we’ll never manage to cut UK emissions by 80 to 90 per cent over the next few decades - necessary if we are to stave off the worst impacts of climate change."
The new petition is being hosted by the Stop Heathrow Expansion campaign, billed as the ‘biggest ever’ coalition against Heathrow expansion. It boasts MPs, MEPs, local councils, residents’ groups, businesses, the Mayor of London and the Greater London Authority, as well as environmental groups and organisations, among its supporters.
Dr Lucas has called repeatedly for a halt to all UK airport expansions in her capacity as Green MEP and is optimistic that this new coalition will play a part in curbing the biggest planned expansion of the UK’s aviation sector in a generation.
She added: "Expanding Heathrow is social and environmental madness. We must stop the Government in its tracks if we are to preserve local quality of life and combat climate change."
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