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Last month Stansted airport bosses revealed proposals to extend the airport by building a second runway.
Expansion plans have met with widespread opposition from people living near the airport.
Opponents say expansion will ruin countryside, increase traffic and damage the environment.
In November an attempt by airport bosses to increase flight numbers was grounded because of fears that expansion would enhance climate change.
A council blocked plans to extend the existing runway in order to increase plane movements from around 220,000 to more than 260,000 per year.
Uttlesford District Council, which covers the airport, near Chelmsford, Essex, said 'no' to a planning application by the British Airports Authority citing climate change as one of a number of reasons for refusal.
Environmental campaigners hailed the council's decision as a benchmark, saying it was the first time climate change had been listed as a reason for refusing a planning application.
And residents of villages around the airport, who have mounted a long campaign against expansion, urged BAA to abide by the decision.
But Terry Morgan, Stansted's managing director, said the airport would appeal and seek to have the issue decided by a Government inspector at a planning inquiry.
And he said the airport would push ahead with plans to build a second runway.
Copyright Press Association 2007
