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Heathrow Airport: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Answer

The following information sets out what information is available for: (a) NOx emissions; (b) CO2 emissions, and (c) other greenhouse gas emissions:Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) EmissionsThe White Paper set out the following strict conditions from 2010, in line with the current European Union directive on nitrogen dioxide (NO2) related pollutants¹:"Hourly limit value for the protection of human health—200micro/m3 NO2, not to be exceeded more than 18 times in a calendar year; and""Annual limit value for the protection of human health—40micro/m3 NO2 annual average"The Department for Transport's 2007 'Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport' consultation document concluded that these conditions could be met.Further information is available in the following documents:"Air Quality Studies for Heathrow: Base Case, Segregated Mode, Mixed Mode and Third Runway Scenarios modelled using ADMS-Airport, 15 November 2007, Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants, Table 4.5—4.7; Table 4.12—4.13""Heathrow Airport Emission Summaries, October 2007, AEA Energy and Environment, Table 4.1.4—Table 4.8.4 Annual emissions by source category, available at:""http://w\/vw.dft.gov.uk/consultations/closed/heathrowconsultation/technicalreports/emissionsummaries.pdf"Carbon Dioxide (CO2) EmissionsThere is limited data regarding past CO2 emissions at Heathrow airport specifically. Published emissions data from DECC are at the national level only. However, data based on fuel uplifted at Heathrow are reported—this is published in the Department for Transport's 2009 'Impact Assessment Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport', where aviation carbon dioxide emissions attributable to flights departing from Heathrow in 2005 are estimated at 17.2MtCO2 or 2.9 per cent. of total UK CO2. emissions.Average CO2 emissions from aircraft at Heathrow airport in 2005 are estimated from DfT modelling to be around 114 grams of CO2 per passenger km. This is in line with the air transport conversion factors published by DEFRA in 2008 and reflects the mix of aircraft used and flights made from Heathrow in that year.For future years, the Government have announced a new target to get UK aviation carbon dioxide emissions in 2050 below 2005 levels for the UK as a whole.Once aviation joins the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) in 2012, CO2 emissions from all flights departing and arriving at airports in the EU will be capped at 97 per cent. of average 2004-06 levels, with the cap tightening to 95 per cent. of average 2004-06 levels from 2013 onwards (the cap applies at the EU level, and not at individual member state or airport levels). Any aviation emissions above this cap will need to be accounted for by airlines securing reductions from other sectors within the EU ETS. So any change in the capacity of Heathrow in future years will not lead to any net increase in CO2 emissions."¹ The revised directive provides for later compliance (up to 2015) in certain circumstances"

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

487 c2128-9W; 253935

Session

2008-09

Subjects

Air pollution Heathrow Airport Greenhouse gas emissions

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk