Net zero has been put in “serious jeopardy” due to Heathrow Airport’s expansion, Keir Starmer has been warned.
MPs have warned the Prime Minister and his Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, that their plans for a third runway at Heathrow will make it more difficult to hit the agreed net zero targets.
The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) said that the Government's support for expansion would make hitting net zero "significantly more difficult to achieve".
The report also found little evidence that the economic growth from Heathrow's expansion would outweigh environmental impacts.
The Government has supported airport expansion in pursuit of economic growth, but opponents, led by fellow Labour bigwig Sir Sadiq Khan, have vowed to oppose the new runway.
The report threatens to reignite a row within the Labour Party about the airport's proposed third runway.
Toby Perkins, a Labour MP and chairman of the EAC, said: "Meeting our decarbonisation targets is already a major challenge.
"Expanding airport capacity is likely to make that task much harder."
Net zero has been put in “serious jeopardy” due to Heathrow Airport’s expansion
| PAHe added: "Having ruled out the kind of demand management measures likely to seriously reduce emissions, ministers need to make clear what alternative tools they are willing to use to ensure targets are met."
A spokesman for the Mayor of London said: "Any expansion should be consistent with our binding climate change targets, as well as noise and air pollution objectives.
"The Mayor remains unconvinced that a new Heathrow runway can deliver hundreds of thousands of additional flights every year without a hugely detrimental impact on our environment."
Green groups and anti-noise campaigners said plans to enlarge airports should be shelved after the report’s findings.
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MPs have warned the Prime Minister and Rachel Reeves that their plans for a third runway at Heathrow will make it more difficult to hit the agreed net zero targets
| Getty ImagesJohann Beckford, senior policy adviser at the Green Alliance think tank, said: "Ministers are pressing ahead with expanding Heathrow just as the weaknesses in their case for it become glaring."
The report also addressed the Government’s "Jet Zero Strategy", a plan to have a fully decarbonised aviation sector.
Part of this strategy includes Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), fuels which are made from waste oil, municipal waste and non-food crops, and hydrocarbons made with captured carbon and green hydrogen.
The report found that the "Jet Zero Strategy" requires carbon savings from new technologies that are not yet being produced at a commercial scale.
Mr Perkins said: "This problem can’t simply be outsourced to industry, the scale of the challenge is too great. It’s time for the Government to step up and take responsibility for its own targets."
Heidi Alexander, Transport Secretary, earlier this week said that the Government would update the rules surrounding airport expansion to allow Heathrow’s expansion to quickly move through the planning process
| PAThe EAC recommended that the Government review and update their strategy for net zero aviation plans in line with technological advancements.
The Department for Transport has said that they are committed to the 2050 net zero goals.
Heidi Alexander, Transport Secretary, earlier this week said that the Government would update the rules surrounding airport expansion to allow Heathrow’s expansion to quickly move through the planning process.
Mrs Alexander said: "When we say this government is one that backs the builders, not blockers we mean it.
"Today is a critical building block which will advance plans for the delivery of a third runway at Heathrow, meaning people can start to experience the full benefits sooner."