We hear this week that airport operator BAA’s appeal to the Competition Commission against their decision that the operator must sell off some of their airports has been upheld. Concerns about the ‘apparent bias’ of one member of the panel has thrown the Committee into ‘disarray’ and means that BAA’s appeal against the Committee’s decision was won… on a technicality.
As we posted in our blog last year, the Office of Fair Trading referred its investigation into the supply of airport services in the UK to the Competition Commission in March 2007, after Spanish group Ferrovial bought BAA. The watchdog’s ensuing report called on the company to offload Stansted and Gatwick to different buyers, as well as sell either Glasgow or Edinburgh after finding that BAA’s ownership of a number of airports “gives rise to adverse effects on competition”. The airports had to be sold within 2 years of the report’s publication otherwise an independent group would be called in to sell off for them. The sale of Gatwick was agreed in October for £1. 51bn, making little dent in the company’s debt which this summer was creeping towards £10bn.
BAA may well be pleased about the outcome of their appeal. But it is surely a narrow victory for them. The Inquiry made no judgment on whether the Commission’s findings that threatened to shatter the airport owner’s monopoly were correct or not. BAA’s argument that two years was not enough time to complete the sell off of some of their airports was, however, dismissed. This decision essentially postpones the original ruling and BAA and the Commission must return to the table once more to thrash out the competition charge. Could this, as some in the media are suggesting, give BAA a last chance to fight back?
We have supported SSE's fight from the start
As the farce continues to play out, we are still waiting to have our day in court at the beleaguered Public Inquiry into plans at Stansted for a second runway which threaten 6 ancient woodlands. In 2007 the then Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears MP, said that the Public Inquiry would be postponed until the Competition Commission announced its findings but BAA’s swift appeal once these were announced has tied up the process even further and at vast expense.
How this latest drama will impact on the Inquiry is anyone’s guess right now. John Denham MP, now holding the post vacated by Blears earlier this year, said in July that it was unfeasible to begin an Inquiry while the future ownership remained in question. Here at the Trust we can only wait to present our case for ancient woodland – with resource implications and financial costs to us mounting all the while – and watch while the merry-go-round spins on.
What are your views on aviation expansion in the UK? Share your thoughts and comments with us! You can also pass this on using the bookmark below.
As our press release says, the Scottish Government has finally chosen to grant permission for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route. While it says we are “disappointed” personally I’m feeling frustrated and more than a little angry. As the Woods under Threat Officer for Scotland I’ve visited all of the woods we brought to the attention of the Public Inquiry. While we tried to convey to the public inquiry how special and irreplaceable these woods are, they have chosen to go ahead with this hugely damaging route and carve a swathe out of the Aberdeenshire countryside.
Other groups have spoken publicly about the increased CO2 emissions which such a large road will generate (climate change being another threat to ancient woodland), making the Scottish Government’s commitments within the recent Climate Change Bill sound a little hollow.
My heart goes out to the people who have known and loved these woods their whole lives, and it raises fears for other woods in the vicinity of the road, as further development can’t be far behind – but that’s a fight for another day.
The research commissioned from the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) is the latest in a long line of changing goalposts when it comes to the subject of airport expansion. The Committee, chaired by Lord Adair Turner, was asked to advise on options for reducing emissions below business as usual to meet the target and on the implications for aviation expansion in the 2020’s.
The UK Government has set a target for carbon dioxide emissions from UK aviation, both domestic and international, which requires them to be no higher than 2005 levels in 2050. In ‘Meeting the UK Aviation Target – Options for Reducing Emissions to 2050‘ the CCC identifies that if this target were to be achieved, aviation would account for around 25% of the UK’s total allowed emissions under the economy-wide 80% cut in 2050 relative to 1990 included in the Climate Change Act.
Demand for aviation has grown by 130% over the last 20 years according to the CCC, which projects that it could continue to grow by over 200% from the 2005 level by 2050. However, the CCC reckons that it is only prudent to plan on the basis that technological advances could make a 60% growth in demand compatible with the emissions target. According to the CCC, policy measures required to restrain demand include limits to further airport expansion.
Unremitting airport expansion threatens the natural world directly. We are still fighting to keep safe the 6 ancient woodlands threatened by Stansted.
Stansted's 2nd runway wipes out 6 ancient woodlands
And despite BAA’s pledge this month not to put plans for a third runway forward until after an election, we maintain a watchful eye at Heathrow - where notable and ancient trees at Sipson and Harlington would be threatened. News of Gatwick’s recent sale also means our Woods under Threat team remain on high alert!
The CCC report also raises the spectre that, unless other sectors make disproportionate cuts in emissions and demand for aviation is substantially restrained through limiting airport expansion, there will be severe consequences for climate change.
It’s implicit then that the 2003 Aviation White Paper, which set out the sites proposed for expansion, should be reviewed in light of this Report. While the CCC agree they say their remit is to make recommendations to Government based on different scenarios, it’s up to Government to decide on what action to then take. Reconsidering the AWP would certainly be a start.
What do you think about plans to expand aviation in the UK? Please share your comments, and pass this on!
In the final of our Wave blog series, here’s a “tree’s-eye” view from the front and a first hand account from our meeting with Ed Miliband before he left for Copenhagen.
Along with our coalition partners RSPB, Tearfund, Christian Aid, National Union of Students, Women’s Institute, Oxfam, the Wildlife Trusts and almost 100 other NGOs, the Stop Climate Chaos delegation lead the way to Parliament.
While our members and supporters walked with our trees on the Wave in London on December 5th, we were also represented right at the very front of the march!
Our trees were right at the front of the Wave
One of our trees shares the view from the other side:
“The amazing energy of the people behind us really kept up the pace on the march, they knew exactly what they wanted to say and they weren’t afraid to shout it out (ear-splittingly loud!). Lots of smiles from the Christmas shopping crowds as we passed through Mayfair and Picadilly, and a fair few tourists baffled by the sudden influx of blue (and in our case, leafy) hordes…
“Just when I was staring to feel a bit wilted and prickly inside my tree outfit, Big Ben reared up ahead of us. Come 3pm we were face to face with a wall of press cameras, and even though the politicians we wanted to speak to were no-where in sight yet we were on the tips of our roots, straining for our place in this little slice of history and trying to keep our wayward flag in shot as the rain started.
“After the grand WAVE finale at the Houses of Parliament we were whisked into a meeting hall where around 80 of us had been invited to speak with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Miliband. There were some fantastic questions from the floor, Ed seemed genuinely open and is clearly a consummate professional but a couple of the students really had him on the spot! It was great to see so many organisations, who are justifiably passionate about our own causes, all looking at the big picture and the long term together. There just wasn’t time for everyone to get their own point of view across but we finally got our moment at the end of the session, when we personally met with Ed. He loved our outfits! and we made sure reforestation in the UK stayed on the agenda and left him clutching the Trust’s aspirations for the summit and the action needed ahead.
“I’m glad we kept our costumes on – he’ll remember talking with a couple of dishevelled trees when we meet again to discuss the outcomes from Copenhagen!”
The anticipation surrounding the most talked-about climate conference to date comes to a head this week, as the final round of UNFCCC talks open in Denmark.
Dr James Cooper talks to e-Politix
We have been talking to e-Politix, an online forum for MP’s and their advisors, researchers and the political community about what we want to see from Copenhagen. You can read the full interview with James Cooper, our Head of Government Affairs here.
Last weekend we were also in London and Glasgow to take part in mass demonstrations organised by the Stop Climate Chaos coalition. We were joined by our members and supporters and over 50,000 other people, who were all there to march in support of the UK taking leadership at Copenhagen. On the day of the march we met with Ed Miliband in Parliament afterwards giving him our call to action personally.
The Trust was there to show support for a good deal for forests everywhere, and to see the UK turn words into action at home as a result. You can still add your voice to our call to action – email Ed and Gordon Brown yourself today!
At 3:oopm today, tens of thousands of people from all walks of life are sending a positive message to political leaders, in support of a safe climate future for all.
Dai the blue dragon has checked the weather forecast and is very excited about taking his first trip to London on Saturday 5 December. Dai is a Welsh Dragon, who has turned himself blue for the Wave and will be marching with Stop Climate Chaos Cymru at the event.
This is part of a very long and gruelling journey for Dai. Last week he met Members of the National Assembly for Wales, on the slate steps of the Senedd in Cardiff, who tied luggage labels to him, to take on his international journey of over 1000 miles to the Copenhagen Climate Change summit. Dai will take all of the labels, which ask for a 40% reduction in carbon emissions by 2020 and will be very proud to represent the environmental aspirations of the people of Wales.
Welsh Dragons are normally very shy, and rarely emerge from their caves during the daytime, but Dai feels so strongly about climate change that he insisted on joining Coed Cadw (the Woodland Trust) and the other SCCC partners in being a part of the Wave this Saturday, and then representing them at the Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen next week. Dai wants a fair, ambitious and binding deal in Copenhagen, and he’s hoping his appearance will make world leaders sit up and take notice. He wants them to deliver a fair global deal that keeps global warming under two degrees C. This means rich countries taking the lead by reducing their emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020.
Assembly Member Mick Bates gives his luggage label to Dai
As governments from all around the world try to negotiate a deal on reducing CO2 emissions at Copenhagen in December, global forest destruction which accounts for nearly 20% of human induced CO2 emissions, will be high on the agenda. World media attention will be focused on reporting negotiations to stop the loss of global forest cover.
To mark our support our remaining trees are looking forward to joining tens of thousands of people, from all walks of life, on Saturday 5th December on the streets of London and Glasgow in this peaceful, positive demonstration of support for a safe climate future from the Copenhagen talks…
Walk with our trees on the Wave and show your support for the UK Government in leading on an agreement for a strong deal for forests everywhere, and then taking action at home as a result…
(Keep an eye out for more films between now and the 5th; this is number 3 in a series of 4!)
Posted by Kaye Brennan 
Posted by woodlandtrust 
Posted by Kaye Brennan 
