Policy Hub
On 21 May 2008, the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) and the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) published a report (Breaking the holding pattern: a new approach to aviation policy making in the UK) which highlights disagreements in relation to the quality of the data underpinning the government's air transport policy.
The report finds that available data on the benefits and impacts of aviation is widely disputed and inadequate for reliable decision making on the future of UK air travel. It also warns that decisions about the future of air transport must not pre-empt crucial UK and international policy decisions addressing aviation's climate impacts.
Drawing on a year long process of dialogue, the report argues that widespread controversy over the accuracy of such data embraces a range of key measures, including the benefits of air travel to the UK economy, its contribution to climate change, noise and air pollution and the potential for technology to reduce aviation's environmental impacts. It concludes that the high levels of conflict around the effects of aviation are bad for government, the industry and citizens, creating rising distrust and undermining policy decisions.
The report recommends that the government should:
The report also advises that proposed expansion at Heathrow should be put on hold until the Air Transport White Paper has been reviewed. This review will also have implications for decisions on expansion at other UK airports, including Stansted.
Breaking the holding pattern: a new approach to aviation policy making in the UK