Heathrow runway decision 'not a knockout blow' for campaigners as climate pledges loom large
The green light on the third runway comes after Britain's world-leading pledge on net zero emissions.
Wednesday 16 December 2020 17:53, UK
The Supreme Court's decision is a major disappointment for climate activists - but it's not a knockout blow.
Heathrow will still have to jump through enormous hurdles before building work can begin and in the end this whole saga could be outrun by global efforts to halt the climate emergency.
The landscape around decisions which aren't good for the climate has moved on considerably since the idea of expanding Heathrow was first muted.
Not least Britain's pledge to be net zero by 2050.
In the legal chain of events, this came after former transport secretary Chris Grayling announced support for a third runway at Heathrow.
But net zero is still likely to be central to the long and probably protracted planning process that almost certainly lies ahead.
The UK government recently announced it would cut emissions by 68% compared with 1990 levels by 2030.
The committee on climate change, which advises the government on how to get to net zero, has already said Heathrow should only expand if regional airports contract.
The expansion of Heathrow jars with the picture of a government doing its utmost to present itself as a world leader on net zero - and the government will have the final say in all of this.
The government has stepped out of the legal fight - which is now between campaigners and Heathrow.
But Boris Johnson is still being judged in the court of public opinion as to whether he genuinely intends to help save the planet or not.
Activists had hoped a previous Court of Appeal decision that went in their favour would boost their chances of bringing down other projects which they say aren't compatible with climate ambition.
But they won't give up.
The Supreme Court ruling is certainly not the end of the matter.