Pollution warning over new airports

More planes will have an impact on pollution levels

Environment experts have warned that plans to boost airport capacity in Kent could mean the government fails to meet targets on cutting pollution.

Members of the Sustainable Development Commission said on Wednesday the government was unlikely to meet its pledges to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

They warned that growth in air traffic was a major factor in increasing pollution levels.

Commission member Professor Paul Ekins said carbon dioxide emissions from air travel were not a serious problem in Kent at present.

Greenhouse gas

But he warned that this could change under government plans to build new airports - such as its controversial proposals for Cliffe - and to expand capacity at Heathrow and Gatwick.

"It is preparing an energy white paper which is widely expected to look at further cuts in emissions of carbon dioxide from other sources," he said.

"That's industry and vehicles and power generation.

"There is a real danger that the growth in aviation emissions that's forecast will upset and counteract a lot of these savings from these other sectors."

The Sustainable Development Commission's report said the government would fall well short of its goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20% from 1990 levels by 2010.

The Kyoto Protocol target, of reducing total greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5% from 1990 levels over the period 2008-12, will be achieved, the commission said.