Commenting on the pre-trial hearing on January 15, following legal challenges to Heathrow expansion by Friends of the Earth and other applicants (including the Mayor of London) at the High Court, Back Heathrow executive director, Parmjit Dhanda said:

“Climate change is one of the most pressing issues that faces us in the UK and wider world. However, it is a problem that should be shared by all and to argue that scrapping expansion would solve climate change is wrong.

“The enemy is not aircraft but carbon. The reality is that you can’t uninvent aircraft or the aviation industry, the trick is to target the real culprit – carbon emissions.

“Heathrow’s commitment to become carbon neutral, the wider progress made on UK carbon targets and the economic benefits of a new runway has the support of over 100,000 people in the local community.

“The best way forward is to help build a sustainable airport that plays its part in tackling climate change while delivering jobs, skills and investment.”