Rachel Reeves is facing criticism for citing a report that was commissioned by Heathrow Airport itself as evidence that a third runway at the airport would boost the UK economy. Experts and green groups have challenged Reeves’s claims about advances in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and the economic benefits of a new runway. The report by the Frontier Economics consultancy, commissioned by Heathrow, stated that a third runway could increase potential GDP by 0.43% by 2050, with 60% of the boost going to areas outside London and the south-east. However, critics argue that the methodology used in the report is unreliable and based on forecast data supplied by the airport.
The New Economics Foundation (NEF) criticized the chancellor’s support for Heathrow expansion based on a report commissioned by the airport and expressed concerns about the economic and environmental implications. Analysis from the NEF and other sources suggests that SAF may not significantly reduce emissions by 2040 and that producing sustainable aviation fuel would require a large amount of agricultural land, potentially impacting food security and biodiversity.
Opponents of Heathrow expansion argue that increasing the number of flights will not necessarily drive economic growth and suggest that investing in improved domestic public transport may be a better alternative. They also question the sustainability of SAF and the environmental impact of producing biofuels on a large scale. The Treasury was approached for comment on the issue.
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