Miliband: Heathrow third runway in jeopardy over Net Zero targets
Although Chancellor Rachel Reeves has signalled tentative support for a third Heathrow runway, another cabinet minister is less optimistic.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband says any airport expansion, including this key Heathrow project, ‘won’t go ahead’ if it doesn’t meet ‘legally-binding limits on UK emissions.’
Media is reporting a cabinet rift on the plans to expand Heathrow.
Reeves has supported the runway project and its potential economic benefit ‘trumps other things” including the Net Zero targets.
The Chancellor is expected to approve the plans which have been mooted at various stages for the past two decades.
“Any aviation expansion must be justified within carbon budgets, and if it can’t be justified, it won’t go ahead,” Miliband told a parliamentary environment committee.
Miliband is spearheading efforts to decarbonise by 2030.
Impact plans reveal a third runway would increase the number of annual flights at Heathrow to 720,000, up from a current 480,000.
Miliband told committee MPs: “I just want to provide this element of reassurance to you, which is 100% any aviation expansion must be justified within carbon budgets.”
Related News Stories: Miliband: Heathrow third runway in jeopardy over Net Zero targets Third Heathrow runway won't go ahead if it breaks net zero targets ... Reeves says growth eclipses net zero as Heathrow runway decision ... The global shift forcing Britain to change course on net zero Rachel Reeves's bid to expand Heathrow could add £40 to airline ... Climate Change - Hansard - UK Parliament Ed Miliband's net zero bind - New Statesman Energy Security and Net Zero - Hansard - UK Parliament Chris Venables (@chrisjvenables) / X Is Ed Miliband giving up on the Net Zero dream? - UnHerd
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt