While recognising the importance of economic growth, the Trusts argue that such expansions prioritise short-term gains at the expense of sustainable development, undermining the UK’s climate and biodiversity commitments.

Expressing their concerns over the impact that airport expansion will have on climate, nature and our communities, a letter addressed to the Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon Heidi Alexander, and the Chancellor, Rt Hon Rachel Reeves, is headed by the chief executives and directors of seven Wildlife Trusts across the movement. Alongside BBOWT, these include Sussex Wildlife Trust, Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs & Northants, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, Surrey Wildlife Trust, London Wildlife Trust and the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts.

Supporting their mission to work with partners and businesses to embed sustainability into the UK’s society and economy, the Trusts list the following reasons against the expansion:

Climate Change

Airport expansion would enable more flights and increase carbon emissions. This is in direct opposition to the UK’s legally binding net zero targets and the expert recommendations of the Climate Change Committee, which continues to advise ‘no net airport expansion across the UK.’

Habitat Loss

Airport expansion would have damaging impacts on the ground. Previous such plans involved the destruction of numerous nature reserves and protected green spaces, devastating impacts on waterbodies with international importance for birds and the concreting over of rivers.

Air Quality

The Airports Commission has reported that airport expansion would result in increased traffic from passenger, freight and other activity in the surrounding areas leading to poorer air quality. Such increased pollution is in addition to the pollution caused during the construction process. Poorer air quality would disproportionately affect under-served communities living in close proximity to polluted areas, posing a public health threat and leading to increased early deaths.

Estelle Bailey, Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust’s Chief Executive, says:
“We are dismayed to see reports that the Government is considering supporting airport expansion. We know that prioritising short-term growth over our net zero obligations and economic security is short sighted. We must not allow short-term gain to cause long-term damage to the economy, health and security of future generations. Global warming is the biggest threat our planet and all life on it faces.”

Matthew Stanton, BBOWT’s Conservation Strategy Director, says: “We urge the Government not to support the proposed expansion of Gatwick, Heathrow and Luton airports. Flooding, storms, wildfires, drought, crop failure, rising sea levels and biodiversity loss are just a handful of the negative consequences of climate collapse and with every 0.1 degree temperature increase these threats become increasingly extreme.”

Growth must be sustainable, not destructive. At COP29, on the world stage, the UK called out other nations for inaction and set new ambitious goals to reduce emissions by 81% by 2035. That date is approaching rapidly and recent reports from the Climate Change Committee indicate that the country is veering from this target. The Government will have to act with haste to reach these goals. Airport expansion contradicts the country’s climate ambitions and weakens its voice on the world stage.

Editors notes 
The letter signed was sent on behalf of BBOWT, London Wildlife Trust, Sussex Wildlife Trust, Surrey Wildlife Trust, Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs & Northants, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust and the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts to the Secretary of State and Chancellor on 27 January 2025. It can be read in full here.