Bristol Airport approval “risks setting progress on climate change back by years”

Carla Denyer, Bristol Councillor and co-leader of the Green Party, has responded to the approval of Bristol Airport’s expansion plans by the government inspectorate.

Carla said:

“Allowing Bristol Airport to expand – more than doubling its capacity – is an outrageous decision that is totally incompatible with the climate emergency. Aviation, especially the frequent flights taken by a wealthy minority, is one of the fastest growing sources of carbon emissions and causes incredible amounts of pollution both globally and locally in Bristol and North Somerset.

“The Government’s intervention on the side of the Airport goes against the wishes of local people, councils and elected representatives and contradicts the advice of their own Climate Change Committee. It risks setting the UK’s progress on climate change back by years.”

Notes

Image is of Carla Denyer speaking at the Airport appeal public inquiry in July 2021.

Bristol Greens, including Carla, have campaigned against the airport’s expansion plans since they were announced in 2018: drawing attention to the airport’s misleading claims to be carbon neutral, lobbying the Mayor for support, passing a Council motion against expansion plans, and helping to organise a regional campaign that culminated in North Somerset council’s rejection of the application.