Expansion Rebellion: Using the Law to Fight a Runway and Save the Planet

The UK's 2018 vote to proceed with the plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport was a devastating blow to those concerned about global warming. A legal case was brought to challenge this decision, arguing that it would jeopardize the UK's ability to meet its commitments under the 2015 Paris Agreement. This book traces the story of how the case was prepared and why international aviation has for so long avoided meaningful limits on its expansion.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2022
Publisher: Manchester University Press

This is a story of hope in the face of widespread consternation over the global climate crisis. For many people concerned about global warming, the 2018 vote by UK parliamentarians to proceed with the plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport was a devastating blow. Aviation was predicted to make up some 25% of the UK's carbon emissions by 2050, and so the decision seemed to fly in the face of the UK's commitment to be a climate leader.

Can the UK expand Heathrow airport, bringing in 700 extra planes a day, and still stay within ambitious carbon budgets? One legal case sought to answer this question. Campaigning lawyers argued that plans for a third runway at one of the world's busiest airports would jeopardise the UK's ability to meet its commitments under the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. This book traces the dramatic story of how the case was prepared - and why international aviation has for so long avoided meaningful limits on its expansion.

The decision to proceed with the third runway at Heathrow Airport was met with widespread consternation and concern among those who were deeply concerned about the impact of aviation on the environment. The aviation industry was predicted to make up a significant portion of the UK's carbon emissions by 2050, and the expansion of Heathrow Airport was seen as a direct contradiction to the UK's commitment to reduce its carbon footprint.

Campaigning lawyers, led by the Environmental Law Foundation (ELF), took up the case against the government's plans for the third runway. They argued that the expansion would violate the UK's obligations under the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, which aimed to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius. The lawyers also pointed out that the expansion would lead to increased noise and pollution, which would have a negative impact on the health and well-being of local residents.

Despite the strong legal arguments put forward by the ELF, the government refused to back down on its plans for the third runway. In 2018, the UK parliament voted in favour of the expansion, despite widespread opposition from environmental groups, local communities, and even some members of parliament.

The decision was a devastating blow to those who had been fighting to limit the growth of aviation and protect the environment. It seemed to confirm the perception that the interests of the aviation industry were being put ahead of the needs of the planet and its people.

However, the legal case against the third runway was not the end of the story. The ELF continued to fight for environmental protection, and in 2020, they secured a landmark victory when the High Court ruled that the government's plans for the third runway were unlawful. The court found that the government had failed to consider the impact of the expansion on the UK's carbon emissions targets and had failed to take into account the potential harm to the environment.

The ruling was a significant victory for environmentalists and a reminder that the fight for a sustainable future was far from over. It also highlighted the need for stronger environmental laws and regulations to ensure that the aviation industry was held accountable for its impact on the environment.

In conclusion, the story of the legal case against the third runway at Heathrow Airport is a testament to the power of activism and the importance of fighting for a sustainable future. Despite the devastating blow of the government's decision to proceed with the expansion, the ELF's legal case and the subsequent victory in the High Court have shown that there is still hope for a better world. It is up to all of us to continue to work together to limit the growth of aviation and protect the environment for generations to come.

Weight: 268g
Dimension: 130 x 197 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526162359