The British government gave the green light on Thursday to a major expansion of the country's booming airports, winning praise from operators but outraging environmentalists over the impact on global warming. A report by Transport Minister Douglas Alexander endorsed the conclusions of the Dec. 2003 Aviation White Paper which noted that aviation accounted for two percent of Britain s economy and proposed building four new runways to meet demand.

Two would be around the Greater London region, one in central England and one in Scotland. "There has been increasing awareness since the White Paper was published of the need to ensure that the aviation industry grows sustainably. The Government has also recognised this as a priority," Alexander said.

"At the same time, we must ensure that the UK has the airport capacity it needs to enhance its economic performance." The biggest player in Britain's airports sector is Spanish firm Ferrovial which owns BAA which in turn runs major airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Edinburgh.

Britain has taken a lead in highlighting the danger of global warming. Most scientists agree that average world temperatures will rise by between two and six degrees Celsius this century due to emissions from burning fossil fuels for power and transport, causing floods, famines and violent storms. To make matters worse, they say that high altitude emissions are four times more damaging than those at the surface.

Prosperity
Alexander s report follows the conclusions of a major transport review earlier this month by former British Airways chief Rod Eddington backing a big airport expansion. "This progress report shows that the aviation industry is on course to deliver the vital infrastructure which is crucial to the future prosperity of the United Kingdom," said Keith Jowett, Chief Executive of the Airport Operators Association.

But green activists said that with passenger numbers expected to more than double to 490 million a year by 2030 it would be impossible for the government to meet its target of cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 60 percent by 2050. "Aviation policy is on a climate change collision course," said Friends of the Earth campaigner Richard Dyer. "The Government must listen to the alarm bells, abandon its airport expansion plans and take urgent action to cut carbon dioxide emissions," he urged.

At the predicted rate of growth, aviation would account for half of Britain s carbon emissions by 2050. Campaigners say that European Union's draft proposals to include aviation in its Emissions Trading Scheme after 2011 would only cut predicted traffic growth by a maximum of 2.9 percent by 2020. Dyer said including aviation in the trading scheme -- the government's preferred route -- would have little effect.

"It will not happen for years and is unlikely to lead to a significant reduction in the growth in air travel," he added. Under the current scheme smokestack industries like power plants are given emission quotas. They may sell any surplus allowances but must buy extra if they exceed their limits. Former World Bank chief economist Nicholas Stern said in October urgent action on global warming was crucial and highlighted the pivotal role of this carbon trading. (Additional reporting by Mike Smith and Jason Neely)
(Por Jeremy Lovell, Planet Ark, 15/12/2006)