Talk of 'sustainable' airport expansion is a load of hot air

Published on Thursday 22 May 2008 09:03

ON March 14 the West Edinburgh Planning Framework appeared, promising us "a framework to support increased sustainable economic growth in West Edinburgh".

The word sustainable has so many positive connotations – Greens use it all the time, meaning anything that can be continued indefinitely, activities that work with our environment rather than depleting our resources.

Yet all too often nowadays, it's used by un-Green politicians to mean something they wish to be sustained. During the Grangemouth dispute we even heard about making sure oil supplies were sustainable for the long term, which they're not – North Sea oil has been declining for nine years, and global supplies are at or near their peak.

And it's in this sense that council leader Jenny Dawe uses the word "sustainable", given that the framework "recognises the need for Edinburgh Airport's expansion". Greens aren't against flying, but we are the only party prepared to recognise that endless expansion of flying literally can't be sustained in terms of climate change or rising oil prices. It also goes against the long-term economic interests of the Capital, which would need these resources spent on fast and convenient public transport.

I was dismayed by this approach, but Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson MSP isn't. He believes that such airport expansion "is consistent with our ambitious climate change targets", meaning his government's unfounded, unexplained targets of 80 per cent reduction in emissions by 2050. Maybe he doesn't know that Edinburgh already has several air quality "hot spots", where legal limits for nitrogen dioxide are being breached.

Councillor Dawe believes "it's essential the framework capitalises on West Edinburgh's success and provides for continued economic growth for the good of Scotland". Well, UK government figures show that aviation leads to a net 17 billion tourism deficit, as the amount of money spent by Brits flying abroad far exceeds the amount visitors spend here. And what about the environmental costs?

Aviation currently contributes 13 per cent of UK's climate change gases. This framework welcomes growth at Edinburgh Airport – from the current seven million passengers per annum to a staggering 24m by 2030. Where does this fit in with the Lib Dem pledge of zero carbon by 2050?

Agenda 21 states that public participation in decision making is a fundamental prerequisite for sustainable development. I wonder what people in Edinburgh would prefer? Perhaps they should be asked.

Do we really want a planning framework which eyes up the greenbelt, promises a future west Edinburgh with massively increased noise and air pollution, and marks the beginning of the process of joining Edinburgh to Glasgow in continuous urban sprawl?

&~149 Alison Johnstone is leader of the city council's Green group.