What does Heathrow third runway ruling mean for the climate crisis?

The UK’s top court today overturned a landmark ruling finding Heathrow expansion plans were unlawful because ministers did not adequately consider the climate crisis. But this doesn’t mean Heathrow’s third runway has the green light, experts tell Daisy Dunne

Quarantine queue: Heathrow airport Terminal 5 (Simon Calder )

This morning, the UK’s top court overturned a landmark ruling finding Heathrow’s third runway to be unlawful on climate crisis grounds.

It is a blow for environmental and local campaigners, who have been battling to prove the planned expansion would not be compatible with the UK’s long-term climate goals since the runway was first approved in 2018.

In February of this year, the Court of Appeal found in favour of campaigners. In a landmark ruling, it said plans for Heathrow expansion were unlawful because ministers failed to fully take into consideration their obligations under the Paris Agreement.