SCIENTISTS are warning that airport plans will make it impossible for Leeds to meet its net zero emissions target.

Experts from Leeds University are objecting to a planning application, which they say would result in Leeds Bradford Airport producing more greenhouse gas emissions than the maximum allowed for the whole of the city in 2030.

The lead author of the objection is Professor Julia Steinberger, a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change which advises the United Nations.

The university experts calculate that if the airport expands, it will create 1,227 kilotonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in 2030, which they say is more than the maximum of 1,020 kilotonnes allowed for the whole of Leeds in 2030, based on Leeds City Council’s own carbon reduction targets.

Professor Steinberger said: “The IPCC has told all governments that if we are to avoid catastrophic climate breakdown, we must radically change the way we make plans and decisions about the future. We must rapidly reduce emissions in all sectors.

“LBA expansion would mean the opposite - it would increase emissions. In January this year, Leeds City Council accepted that expanding aviation is ‘fundamentally incompatible’ with reaching net zero emissions until flying itself can be made net zero. There’s virtually no chance of that happening before 2050. ”

Co-author Professor Paul Chatterton said: “There is broad scientific consensus that failure to meet internationally agreed climate targets implies a high risk of catastrophic climate change.

“That means increasing frequency and intensity of floods, heatwaves, droughts and wildfires, disruption to food and water systems, destruction of livelihoods, forced mass migration, with the risk of violent conflict. In short, it means crises that will be even worse than Covid.

“Allowing LBA expansion would speed up these crises, when we desperately need to stop them - so we have to stop this expansion.”

A spokesperson for LBA, said: “We welcome all feedback on the proposed development and understand the environmental concerns that have been expressed and take them very seriously.

“The proposed replacement terminal has been specifically designed to be one of the most sustainable airport buildings in the UK and we have been very clear in our proposals in how we will reduce risk of increased emissions and meet demand for seven million passengers in a more sustainable way than our previously consented scheme.

"Building this terminal will ensure that LBA can be ready for the next generation of flying and continue to move towards the sustainable future the aviation sector has committed to already.”