The UK Chancellor's supports building a 3rd runway for London's Heathrow airport, as well as expanding nearby Gatwick and Luton. She believes these developments will boost economic growth. Other members of her own party (and others), however, think any increase in air travel in Southern England, makes it virtually impossible for the UK to achieve its net zero pledges (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jan/21/heathrow-third-runway-rachel-reeves-sadiq-khan). It's a complex calculation. Air flights can bring in more tourists and business folk. The vast majority of passengers, however, are likely to be UK holiday makers. Flights for any passengers are, however, considerable generators of 'greenhouse gases'. These gases increase global heating, making the entire planet's climate much less predictable. UK damage from extreme weather events (droughts, flooding and storms), as well as agricultural losses, will both be increased. Consequently, although these proposed changes will boost airline and travel company profits, it's by no means certain they will make the country, as a whole, any richer. Expanding these airports, is also hardly a clear signal the UK is taking its environmental responsibilities seriously.
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