A Sustainable Air Quality Action Plan For Heathrow Rob Gibson Strategic Pollution Officer IAPSC 6th June 2001
This afternoon we will:- Consider the Current Air Quality Situation at Heathrow Consider Policy Context Look at options and in relation to sustainability and sustainable development
Heathrow Location
Heathrow Airport 459,703 flights in year 2000 Sunday 31 July 2000, 224,000 people 64 million passengers per annum year 2000 38% Car 24% Taxi More sustainable modes 16 % Rail, 16% Bus 68,000 People employed at Heathrow airport
Pollution Sources Road Vehicles Aviation on the Ground Aviation in the Air Boiler plant Staff Vehicles Airside Vehicles
Predicted Annual Average Nitrogen Dioxide Level (1997)
Predicted Annual Average Nitrogen Dioxide Level (2005)
Monitored Annual Average Nitrogen Dioxide Level ppb Site 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 Brentford 22 23 24 27 31 39 32 28 Bloomsbury 34 34 34 35 36 37 34 35 35 Cromwell Road 41 40 44 47 48 42 48 48 Sutton 20 19 18 17 17 Hillingdon 32 31 27 26 25 HAL 22 23 24 27 31 39 32
Air Quality Management Areas
Air Quality Objectives NO 2 UK Objective (21ppb) must be achieved by end 2004 LA Responsibility - In Pursuit, GLA Responsibility - Achievement EU Objective (21ppb) must be achieved by 2010 UK Govt - Achievement
Context For Action Sustainable Development Aviation Policy Transport Policy Climate Change Programme Demand For Travel Planning System
Sustainable Development UK Government Criteria social progress which meets the needs of everyone; effective protection of the environment; prudent use of natural resources and maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and employment.
Transport Policy New Deal for Transport July 1998... This means aviation should meet the external costs, including environmental costs, which it imposes. We must tackle the effect of civil aviation and airports on the environment page 76 para 3.191
Aviation Policy International (ICAO, Bilateral Agreements etc) European Union National - 1985 White Paper Future of Aviation - Consultation SERAS / Regional Air Services Study Sub-regional (GLA)
Planning System Regional Planning Guidance Planning Policy Guidance GLA Spatial Development Strategy Climate Change Kyoto, UK CO 2 Reduction Targets
Demand for Air Travel Predicted doubling in the demand for air in the next 15 years in the United Kingdom
Stakeholders BAA / Airlines UK plc HA Transport Operators UK Government European Union GLA Local Authorities Community
Possible Actions - Local / Regional Improve modal split of travel to and from Heathrow (GLA Transport Stated Objective) Sustainable - Depends on cost of fare Effective - Not if People don t use it Capital Costs
Possible Actions - Local / Regional Traffic Restraint, Congestion Charging, Traffic Reduction, Road Pricing, Introduction of a Low Emission Zone etc Sustainable - yes Popular -? Effective - Determined within the London LEZ study
Possible Actions - Govt. Encourage Greater Use of Regional Airports Standstead, Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, Bournemouth etc. Considered by SERAS / RASCO Move to Rail Travel Eurotunnel / Regeneration of Kings Cross?
Possible Actions Introduce a tax on aviation fuel Breaks Chicago convention Unilateral Introduction, Aircraft refuel elsewhere ICAO Veto May get help from EU Demand inelastic to increase in price
Possible Actions - BAA Pay for transport improvement (PPP) Ban or restrain traffic on the perimeter roads Congestion charge LEZ Introduce differential landing charges i.e. charging more for the more polluting aircraft. Develop own AQ Strategy
Possible Actions - Airlines Introduction of technological improvements (modernise the fleet) Change operating practices Taxiing, APU use, Landing / Take off Procedures (cf noise)
Possible Actions - Govt. Movement Limit Enforceable? - Yes by DETR Sustainable - Dependent on Figure Set Less than 460,000 (current) Passenger Limit Enforceable? - Not easily
Use of the Planning System Revise UDPs, Consider SDS Restrict New Off Airport Parking Control Development on the Site No - Heathrow s General Development Order Oppose Major Expansion
Air Quality at Terminal 5 Proposal to Expand Heathrow by 30 million passengers per annum Governments air quality objectives (nitrogen dioxide) will be exceeded in both a 4T and 5T scenario in the year 2016
Observer 3rd December 2000
Guardian 19th April 2001
Guardian 5th Jan 2001
Air Quality Objectives NO 2 UK Objective (21ppb) must be achieved by end 2004 LA Responsibility - In Pursuit, GLA Responsibility - Achievement EU Objective (21ppb) must be achieved by 2010 UK Govt - Achievement
Where Do We Go From Here? Continue to Build \ Establish Partnerships Internal, X Borough, Clusters, WGs, GLA, ALG, External BAA, BA, HA, GLA, DETR, EU. Refine and work up the options Use Available Fora to Lobby Investigate the European Union Process
Conclusions Air Quality At Heathrow Is Poor And will remain so therefore, Heathrow Airport is operating above its environmental capacity. Heathrow will not contract in response to this Future mitigation must be commensurate with the environmental damage
Conclusions In action planning partnerships are key All sectors of society must contribute to the future well being and where it is necessary pay the environmental cost. All parties cannot duck the issue or give up
Conclusions IF YOUR LOCAL AIRPORT GROWS TO THE SIZE OF HEATHROW YOU WILL HAVE AIR QUALITY PROBLEMS.
A Sustainable Air Quality Action Plan For Heathrow Rob.Gibson@hounslow.gov.uk IAPCS 6th June 2001