THE Scottish Greens have urged the Scottish Government to drop its support for a third runway at Heathrow Airport.
Controversial plans for the expansion took a step further this week when the Supreme Court ruled the owners of the airport could apply for planning permission, however the final say on the plan will remain with the UK Government.
The Scottish Government entered a memorandum of understanding with the airport in 2016, backing the expansion as long as Scotland will see the economic benefits of the project.
During First Minister’s Questions yesterday, Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie asked Nicola Sturgeon: “Can the First Minister explain why building this runway would be good for the climate or is she finally ready to drop her support for this deeply irresponsible project?”
Sturgeon responded: “This is not a decision for the Scottish Government.
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“I am very clear that we have a responsibility to meet our own climate change targets.We, unlike some other governments, include aviation emissions.”
The First Minister went on to say that there is a question mark over the new runway as more focus is put on the need to reduce emissions and stop climate change in line with the Scottish Government’s environmental targets.
She continued: “I think there is a big question over new runways at a time when all of us are focused on making sure that we reduce emissions and become net-zero, in our case by 2045.
“We will focus on making sure right across transport, how we heat our homes and buildings and the continued work we’re doing around electricity for example, that we are meeting those targets.”
Harvie said it is “not enough to say there are questions about new runways”, adding it is important the Scottish Government makes its policy on the proposed expansion of the runway clear.
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