Carbon Emissions will Soar!
The building of a third runway at Heathrow airport has triggered many different reactions. With the new Terminal 5 finally up and running smoothly, there are now plans to expand Heathrow airport with the construction of a further runway. There are mixed views on the subject but with the Government’s backing it’s difficult to get their opinions voiced.
For students like us who see figures about carbon emissions in the news and learn of the importance of preventing global warming at school, we wonder whether the Government is giving out the wrong message. Many secondary schools are running a programme called “Eco schools” which involves regular meetings with teachers and pupils alike to discuss and put forward projects and ideas to make to the school more eco friendly. The teacher in charge of the ‘Eco schools’ programme at Park High has this to say about the proposal of building a third runway, ‘I think that there is enough air travel already, and it will be very damaging to the environment.’
After installing recycling schemes into many boroughs and encouraging the nation to ‘Be green’ the example the Government is setting is surely not a good one. With the new runway at Heathrow recently approved we begin to wonder whether all our efforts at being green have all gone to waste. Many MPs and agencies share our concerns. The Environmental Agency has warned of “an increase risk of illness and early death around the airport.” With regards to the noise pollution and disturbance for residents under the flight path, MPs as far out as Reading and Greenwich are worried and have expressed their concerns. At least 320 school pupils will need to find new schools and many more new homes as the building of the runway will indeed lead to the demolishing of homes.
Through the media, the Government has been pressuring us to “Be green”. In turn schools have made many changes to promote caring for the environment. However, with the building of this runway there will inevitably be more flights, at least 222,000 a year means tones more carbon emissions will be released into the atmosphere. With the Government setting this poor example of how to look after our planet are we not encouraged to follow their example? If we are ever to combat this fight to stop global warming should we not work together? Surely no one is above saving the planet.
However the Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon says that without the runway Britain would be “less competitive at a time when it’s facing many economic challenges.” With other airports in Paris and Madrid having more runways,many worry this new runway is vital if Heathrow is to survive the recession.
Boris Johnson, Mayor of London supports the view that this is “completely the wrong thing for London.” He is aware of the benefits of the construction of this runway but also says there are “alternative solutions.” With all these negative effects, not to mention taking a chunk out of the economy how can this possibly go forward? Although they have introduced multiple bin collections for many boroughs this is not enough. If a man can be put on the moon surely London will survive without a third runway at Heathrow airport.