Posted
on 26 March 2010
Lord Justice Carnwath of the High Court
ruled that if the UK Government decides
to push ahead with the runway project it
must now review the climate change implications
of Heathrow expansion, the economic case
for a third runway, and the issue of how
additional passengers would get to a bigger
airport.
Government claims that
the aviation policy was in some way divorced
from requirements of the 2008 Climate Change
Act were described as ‘untenable in law
and common sense’.
On the economic case
for Heathrow expansion the judget said that
he would be ‘surprised’ if the recent tripling
of the estimated cost to society of emitting
carbon did not have ‘a significant effect’
on the economic case for the runway. The
judge also said that “it makes no sense
to treat the economic case as settled in
2003.”
"We are delighted
with today’s judgement," said David
Nussbaum, CEO of WWF-UK. "It deals
a body blow to the third runway, but more
than that it makes it clear that the Government's
whole policy of airport expansion must be
reviewed in order to bring it into line
with the Climate Change Act.
"Today's landmark
ruling has implications that could resonate
far wider than the aviation sector. For
a judge to tell the Government that it cannot
build huge pieces of carbon-intensive infrastructure
without considering the long-term consequences
is a resounding win in the fight to tackle
climate change.
"It is also a further
indication of the need for the UK to make
a swift transition to a low carbon economy.
WWF would now urge the Government to focus
on green investment, encouraging alternative
ways of connecting with people wherever
possible, such as high speed rail and videoconferencing,
rather than relying on carbon-heavy methods
such as flying.”The court was hearing a
case brought by six local authorities in
West London, a local residents group (NoTRAG)
and the national campaigning group against
airport expansion HACAN. WWF-UK, Campaign
to Protect Rural England and Greenpeace
were also claimants.
Transport for London
was an independent party supporting the
claim while the Royal Society for the Protection
of Birds gave expert witness. The challenge
to the airport was also supported by Kensington
and Chelsea and the Mayor of London. The
local authorities are all members of the
2M Group which comprises 24 local councils
with a combined population of 5 million
opposed to Heathrow expansion .
The UK Government’s
entire aviation policy must now be reviewed
to take into account the implications of
the 2008 Climate Change Act. The judge found
that “the claimants’ submissions add up,
in my view, to a powerful demonstration
of the potential significance of developments
in climate change policy since the 2003
Air Transport White Paper. They are clearly
matters which will need to be taken into
account under the new Airports National
Policy Statement.”
"We are delighted
with today’s judgement," said David
Nussbaum, CEO of WWF-UK. "It deals
a body blow to the third runway, but more
than that it makes it clear that the Government's
whole policy of airport expansion must be
reviewed in order to bring it into line
with the Climate Change Act.
"Today's landmark
ruling has implications that could resonate
far wider than the aviation sector. For
a judge to tell the Government that it cannot
build huge pieces of carbon-intensive infrastructure
without considering the long-term consequences
is a resounding win in the fight to tackle
climate change.
"It is also a further
indication of the need for the UK to make
a swift transition to a low carbon economy.
WWF would now urge the Government to focus
on green investment, encouraging alternative
ways of connecting with people wherever
possible, such as high speed rail and videoconferencing,
rather than relying on carbon-heavy methods
such as flying.”
The implications of
today’s ruling are profound, not just for
Heathrow but for airport expansion plans
across the UK. Lord Justice Carnwath ruled
that the 2003 Air Transport White Paper
– the foundation of expansion plans across
the country - is obsolete because it is
inconsistent with the Climate Change Act
2008.
The judge expressed
real concern over the “hardship caused to
the local community by uncertainty” over
the third runway. The coalition which brought
the successful legal challenge is now calling
on the Government to end the uncertainty
and scrap the runway plans once and for
all.
If a third runway at
Heathrow airport were to be built, the airport
would become the largest single emitter
of carbon dioxide in the UK. Unrestrained
airport expansion in line with the 2003
plan would make it impossible for the UK
to meet its emissions reductions commitments.
+ More
Inadequate study of
four dam plan threatens Montenegro wild
beauty
Posted on 26 March 2010
Podgorica, Montenegro – Environment and
social impact analysis of a Montenegro government
decision to build four dams on the Moraca
river has been inadequate and an urgent
comprehensive review is needed of the 40
year old plan behind the dams, according
to WWF and partner NGO Green Home.
“We are extremely concerned
by the study published by the Montenegrin
government and that the dams constructions
would start with a number of crucial questions
that still remain unanswered,” said Francesca
Antonelli, Head of the Freshwater Programme
at WWF Mediterranean.
The Moraca River, the
second most important in Montenegro, provides
two thirds of the flows into Lake Skadar,
the biggest lake in the Balkans and one
of the most important bird and fish habitats
in the Mediterranean region, providing more
than 90 per cent of fish consumed in Montenegro.
Lake Skadar, listed
under the Ramsar Convention as a wetland
of international significance, is one of
Europe's five most important wintering sites
for birds. Very rare endemic species of
trout could disappear, and the fishery of
Lake Skadar could shrink by 30 per cent
– with a loss of some €1.5 million in annual
fishing revenues.
The government study
– a strategic environmental impact assessment
(SEA)– was evaluated by an independent expert
commissioned by WWF and its partner NGO
Green Home in Montenegro. Results show that
many inconsistencies appear and that this
project is clearly missing a serious number
of elements.
Among the most important,
the effects to the population and human
health are not appropriately addressed.
For example, the SEA states there will be
significant impacts on the population resulting
from the building of the Andrijevo dam near
the capital city of Podgorica which will
cause loss of more than 200 buildings.
Despite this, the overall
effects to the population and health are
evaluated as “beneficial” and the SEA does
not provide clear explanation how the adverse
effects resulting from the inundation of
houses will be balanced by positive effects.
"sacrificing the
pristine canyon"
