But crucially, the growth in aviation must be constrained.
The CCC will make further recommendations on this issue in the coming months.
How was the news revealed?
In a letter to a tiny pressure group Plan B, the Department for Transport (DfT) aviation head Caroline Low said: “It may be necessary to consider the CCC’s recommended policy approach for aviation.”
This may sound like a cautious civil servant covering bases, but for Plan B it is an admission that the DfT will have to confront the notion that concerns over climate change may outweigh people’s desire to fly more.
Tim Crosland from Plan B told BBC News: “We're pleased to see the government is taking seriously our request to review the expansion of Heathrow.
“Since the (Heathrow) proposal was approved there have been developments of immense significance.
"The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report spelling out the dire consequences of exceeding 1.5C average global warming; Parliament's recognition of a state of climate and ecological emergency; and the CCC's advice that it is 'necessary' for the UK to reach net zero emissions by 2050," Mr Crosland said.
“The government can either take the necessary action to avoid climate breakdown or it can stick to 'business as usual' and expand aviation, the most polluting mode of transport.
“But it can't have it both ways."
Mr Crosland noted that the Scottish government said this week it would review its support for Heathrow in the light of the CCC’s net zero report.
And he called for Heathrow expansion to be brought back to Parliament.
In response, the DfT said: "We take our commitment to the environment very seriously and we will give careful consideration to the net zero report.
"No decision has been taken to review the Airports National Policy Statement, however we are legally obliged to consider requests like this one."
Prof Kevin Anderson, from Manchester University, told BBC News that curbing the growth in aviation would be politically possible because, in his opinion, most flights are taken by the rich.
