UK: Heathrow ruling suggests new legal front in airline sustainability battle

The UK appeal court’s ruling that plans for a third runway at London Heathrow are unlawful on climate grounds is in line with intensifying pressure on a commercial aviation industry that had been enjoying years on largely unconstrained growth. Crucially, this case hints at a future where the sector might face more legal challenges to its expansion plans. Those instigating the challenges would cite the need for governments to uphold commitments made under initiatives such as the Paris Agreement, which create legal obligations to meet certain emissions targets. For an industry that lacks any straightforward answers to how it can grow and concurrently reduce its environmental impact in real terms, being challenged on such an issue in the courts would be a significant development. <br/>