UK court blocks Heathrow Airport expansion

Campaigners won a court ruling Thursday to block the plan for a third runway at London's Heathrow Airport on environmental grounds, setting the stage for a new fight over whether to make Europe's biggest airport even bigger.

The ruling by Britain's Court of Appeal could stall the 14 billion-pound ($18 billion) plan to expand the airport amid concerns about climate change, pollution and noise.

The judges ruled that the government did not take into account its commitment to the Paris Agreement on climate change in making its decision.

Heathrow Airport, which argues that a third runway is needed to meet increasing demand for air travel, said it planned to appeal to the Supreme Court and said it was “confident" that it would be successful.

Parliament approved the plan in 2018, triggering a challenge from environmental groups who said the project conflicted with Britain's commitments to fight global warming.

Local residents also complained about noise, pollution and increased congestion.

But things have changed since parliament approved the matter.

In particular, Boris Johnson, a longtime opponent of the expansion who once promised to lie down in front of the bulldozers to prevent the runway, is now prime minister.

Shortly after the ruling, Johnson's spokesman said the government would not appeal against the court decision, signalling a change of tone.

The ruling opens the possibility that he will use the court's decision to attempt to kill the expansion plan.