Stop Carbon-Heavy Oakland Airport Expansion, by June 5

“Re: Comments on the scope and content of the Draft EIR (Environmental Impact Report)

Despite the climate emergency, the Oakland Airport is planning an expansion to add 17 new gates to accommodate what they anticipate is a widening demand for air travel in the Bay Area.  Aviation is the most climate-harming way to travel due to high altitude effects.  The total climate impact of flight is on average 3 times the effect of the emitted CO2 alone.  Aviation accounted for 9% of California statewide GHG emissions in 2019 and on track to increase.

We urge the Airport to ensure that the Draft EIR include careful estimations of:

• the Airport’s contribution to climate impacts, not only CO2 emissions from airport construction and operations but also emissions of all flights, not only CO2 but also other greenhouse gases.

• all costs to individuals and governments of health consequences of all kinds, both physical and mental, from increased air pollution and sound pollution for communities in the vicinity of the airport.

• all costs to governments and individuals of wildfires increased by the additional emissions contributing to the climate crisis.

• opportunity costs comparing emissions of high speed rail, passenger rail, and bus travel to expected airline destinations.

• increasing costs of building and maintaining pumps and dikes to keep runways, already below sea level, dry and safe with progressively rising sea level.

California has a climate goal of carbon neutrality by 2045. Public money should not be invested in fossil fuel intensive transport infrastructure nor should it be spent on infrastructure vulnerable to sea level rise. Public money should not be invested in air polluting activities that harm front line communities. We say no to airport expansion!”