Johann Beckford

Airport expansion put climate goals at risk, MPs say A committee of MPs says the government has not demonstrated if economic benefits from airport expansion outweigh climate impacts.

"Whilst the Government support for airport expansion has been largely based on its expectation of economic growth, the Government has been unable to direct the Committee to any evidence that supports its assertion."
Damning EAC report in full here:
publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cm...

1️⃣ The government’s case for airport expansion simply doesn’t fly.

Today’s Environmental Audit Committee report is clear: ministers are pushing ahead with new runways without evidence that the economic benefits outweigh the climate and environmental damage. ✈️ @commonseac.parliament.uk

Today, @thecccuk.bsky.social is recommending a new national target to prepare the UK for 2°C of warming by 2050.

If adopted, this will put #adaptation on equal footing with net zero. It’s long overdue.

Reaction from @shaunspiers1.bsky.social and a recap 🧵 on why this matters.

1/5

Towns may have to be abandoned due to floods with millions more homes in Great Britain at risk Every constituency projected to be at greater risk, with many areas likely to be uninsurable, Guardian investigation finds

Some incredible stats in new Aviva research:

🌊90% of properties in Boston & Skegness at risk of flooding. Bermondsey & Old Southwark will be the same by 2050

Ignoring this isn't an option. Every politician must put their shoulder to the wheel on adaptation

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Charging ahead: accelerating the take up of zero emission HGVs In this briefing, we examine what’s holding up the adoption of electric HGVs, from grid constraints to weight restrictions, and recommend how to drive progress.

🚛⚡Electric lorries and vans can now travel from Bristol to Glasgow on a single charge. The technology is proven and is getting cheaper.

So why does UK have a fleet of just 500 eHGVs? In the first half of 2025, Sweden hit 7% sales and China 22%.

Here’s how to get more electric HGVs on the road ⤵️

The decision to grant Gatwick’s expansion goes against the government’s own planning inspectors. It fails on climate, and will create extra air + noise pollution for thousands of people surrounding the airport. 1/5

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Ministers yet to seek climate advice on Heathrow expansion The government faces calls to give the Climate Change Committee a bigger role in advising on airport expansion.

Adding 100,000 flights to #Gatwick with no further plan to cut emissions is deeply worrying.

Last week it emerged that the government’s climate advisers had not been asked about expansion at Heathrow or Gatwick. The environment is clearly being treated as a secondary consideration.

1/3

In short the government admit 100,000 extra flights per year increases emissions.

But they claim in the context of our total carbon budgets it's not *that* big so its...a good idea 🤔

And all for an economic growth case built on seriously shaky foundations

This sentiment in unfortunately still relevant today #Gatwick 👇

Project Boost Learn more and request access

🚀🌍 Project Boost, Green Alliance's development programme for influencing environmental politics, is running a session on how to work with businesses for meaningful impact.

Ft: @rachelsw99.bsky.social ( @aldersgategroup.bsky.social) & @johannbeckford.bsky.social

🗓️ 11 Sept, 10am

Learn more:

Electric truck sales are "soaring" in China, says Nikkei Asia

More were sold in H1 of this year than in the whole of 2024 (!)

asia.nikkei.com/spot...

Today's deadline for #HeathrowExpansion proposals has resulted in two options, one from Heathrow Airport and one from the Arora Group.

In this clip, Charles Long, political adviser, outlines the fundamental issues with airport expansion that neither plan manages to address.

@lbc.co.uk

We’re delighted to be hosting ‘A roadmap for an adapted UK’ in parliament this evening, spotlighting our new report.

Stay tuned for live updates on speeches from @emmahardymp.bsky.social , @johannbeckford.bsky.social, Edward Morello MP and Baroness Brown of Cambridge.

🧵 #GAevent

Today, @metoffice.gov.uk have released their state of climate report highlighting the ongoing impact climate change is having on our weather.

🧵 Here's a thread on the headline findings and why it's so important.

1/7

🥵Feeling sluggish in the heat?

So is everyone else.

Overheating has a big impact on health but also our economy and wider society. Time to get adaptation front and centre of government priorities. 👇

Climate adaptation is in the news: what to do about it? Here's what we should do.

We need to adapt, but we must also arrest climate change. Climate adaptation & net zero are not alternatives: they're both necessary & policies that help us adapt to climate change also help mitigate it.

Delighted this has been published 🙌

Its timely, seeing that the third heatwave of the year is upon us showing climate impacts are here to stay 🥵

The lack of preparation isn't good enough. But action now on heat, on infrastructure and flooding can kickstart the UK's approach to adaptation 👇

Adapt to thrive: preparing the UK for climate change In this report, we show that the UK is underprepared for the impacts of climate change and outline a roadmap to an adapted and more resilient future.

🌡️☔ New report | The UK isn't prepared for the impacts of climate change, and they're already here.

Nearly 3k deaths from excess heat in 2022. £2.4bn annual flooding costs. 6m homes at flood risk.

Yet 2/3 of #adaptation actions are inadequate for the scale of the challenge.

🔗 buff.ly/v9yl5ln

1/6

Lower Thames Crossing project awarded £590m by Rachel Reeves Work on the Lower Thames Crossing is expected to begin in 2026 and finish by 2032.

This is far from the public’s priority for transport investment and every £ spent here is not being used to deliver projects that would really make a difference to people’s daily journeys and undermining goals to get more stuff moving by rail. Disappointing.

The higher the bonnet, the bigger the blind spot. Diagram showing how drivers can't see children in high fronted cars.

NEW RESEARCH: new car bonnets are trending higher every year and drivers of high fronted cars unable to see children as old as nine 😱🚙🚸❗

#Carspreading is out of control. What’s the latest? 🧵1/8

@transenv.bsky.social @cleancitiescampaign.org

Helpful intervention from @flossieb.bsky.social 👇

8 out top 10 flood prone constituencies are set to go Reform at the next election.

Failure to embed resilience will be further evidence of the state failing to stand up for communities and will push voters away from the traditional parties

A no-brainer?

Celeste Hicks and her fellow panellist,
@johannbeckford.bsky.social, pointed out that early implementation of demand measures would ensure those who fly the most pay the most for decarbonising aviation.
@green-alliance.org.uk
3/4

Ahead of the spending review next week, #RachelReeves has today announced £15.6 billion for transport projects in the Midlands, North and West Country.

Our response 👇

Drought declared in north-west of England Many reservoirs in the region are at historic low levels for the time of year

Climate impacts are hitting home.

We have seen record wildfires across the UK, and now, drought declared in the north west, bringing a list of challenges to households, nature and farming.

Adaptation can no longer remain an afterthought.

Funding for flood resilience A letter from Toby Perkins MP

The flooding budget from 2026- remains uncertain, and needs confirmed at the spending review.

@commonseac.parliament.uk chair @tobyperkinsmp.bsky.social has rightly written to Rachel Reeves to stress the impacts underinvestment will have on people and seek clarity on long term allocations.

1/2

Today, @thecccuk.bsky.social issued a letter of advice to the government on how their recent amendments to the ZEV mandate will impact the transition to EVs.

Response from @johannbeckford.bsky.social , senior policy adviser, below.

Read the letter: www.theccc.org.uk/publication/...

Global temperatures could break heat record in next five years Data also shows small but ‘shocking’ likelihood of year 2C hotter than preindustrial era before 2030

The UK is coming to a crossroads on climate adaptation as we face record temperatures for years to come.

And yet consecutive governments have failed to properly prioritise adaptation.

The upcoming #SpendingReview is an opportunity to turn the tide.

1/3

London Congestion Charge set to rise by 20% to £18 The daily cost of driving in central London should rise by £3 to £18, Transport for London says.

Promising to see TfL taking on board feedback that EVs shouldn't face the full Congestion Charge - full comment in the BBC below

"It's great to see London continuing its leadership in encouraging the switch to cleaner vehicles."
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Mind the gap: cutting UK transport’s climate impact » Green Alliance Green Alliance is an independent think tank and charity focused on ambitious leadership for the environment

For a suite of measures to tackle transport emissions and get us on track with our emissions targets, check out our @green-alliance.org.uk Mind the Gap report 👇

green-alliance.org.uk/publication/...

Weakening of UK EV sales rules ‘likely to result in significantly more carbon emissions’ Analysis suggests there could be 500,000 additional plug-in hybrid electric cars on Britain’s roads by 2030

This is a crucial piece by @jasperjolly.bsky.social

In the wake of Trump tariffs, ministers looked at what policy they could act on immediately

But unfortunately these changes had little to do with tariffs but will now have real world emissions consequences 👇

www.theguardian.com/business/202...