Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
5th Report - Airport expansion and climate and nature targets
Environmental Audit Committee
HC 831
Published 24 October 2025
Recommendations
22
Acknowledged
Update Jet Zero Strategy analysis to reflect technological developments and current policy changes.
Recommendation
The government’s Jet Zero strategy is now a few years old and was commissioned under the previous government. Government should consider updating the analysis of the baseline and the pathways to net zero aviation. It should ensure that the plans …
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Government Response Summary
The government reiterated its commitment to carbon pricing and strengthening the UK ETS and CORSIA, clarifying that the Jet Zero Strategy's carbon prices and emission savings were illustrative, not targets. It mentioned a recent monitoring and evaluation report to inform progress, but did not commit to updating the strategy's baseline and pathways analysis as requested.
Conclusions (4)
8
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Whilst air pollution around Heathrow has reduced in recent years due to cleaner aircraft and road vehicles, airport expansion will make it harder for Governments, both national and local, to deliver on air quality targets. The Airports National Policy Statement fails to sufficiently account for the impact airport expansion will …
Government Response Summary
The government stated that as part of the ANPS review, DfT is considering how air quality tests for Heathrow expansion should be set, reviewing changes in legislation/policy/data, and determining mitigations for air quality impacts, with consultation in summer 2026.
13
Conclusion
Acknowledged
We understand the need for the Government to modernise the airspace around the UK, particularly if this will minimise the queuing of planes at airports and reduce the time planes spend circling before they can land. However, this work is likely to expand the area covered by flight paths and …
Government Response Summary
The government details its ANPS review for Heathrow expansion, stating that its four tests, including climate, air quality, and noise, will be considered. It commits to consultations on any ANPS amendments and associated environmental assessments by summer 2026, and to engaging the Climate Change Committee on consistency with net zero.
21
Conclusion
Acknowledged
The Government’s Jet Zero Strategy remains reliant on demand management measures that are as yet insufficient to deliver Net Zero objectives, especially if there is an increase in demand. The strategy relies on a far higher cost to industry to abate carbon emissions than are currently seen. It also requires …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the committee's concerns about the Jet Zero Strategy, clarifying that carbon prices and emission savings were illustrative, and reaffirms its commitment to strengthening the UK ETS and developing Sustainable Aviation Fuels as key parts of its existing strategy.
27
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Whilst it may be possible for the Government to deliver airport expansion alongside its climate and environment targets, we are concerned that the proposed environmental impact from airport expansion will make such targets significantly more difficult to achieve and at much greater effort and cost. Furthermore, the Government has not …
Government Response Summary
The government reaffirmed its commitment to net zero, stating that airport expansion is factored into carbon planning and that the ANPS review will consider climate, air quality, and noise, alongside reviewing and updating various environmental assessments. It also committed to engaging the Climate Change Committee on aviation expansion's consistency with the net zero framework.