Action Plan for Zero Carbon Oxford set out

Oxford City Council has set out its first Action Plan for bringing about a net zero carbon city by 2040 or earlier—ten whole years ahead of the government’s national legal target.

The Net Zero Oxford Action Plan sets out the actions the council is, or will be, taking to eliminate Oxford’s contributions to climate change, and how it will use its influence with government.

The council is responsible for around one per cent of the city’s emissions, however it is estimated that the sphere of the council’s potential influence covers up to 66 per cent of all of Oxford’s emissions.

The plan sets out the city council’s action across six themes: buildings; transport; biodiversity and offsetting; renewable energy; waste reduction; and democratic discussion and engagement, and scientifically informed action.

The Action Plan is accompanied by Oxford City Council’s new Carbon Management Plan that sets out how it will achieve zero carbon emissions across its estate and operations by 2030 or earlier.  Alongside this, the council is publishing a plan outlining steps toward full decarbonisation of fleet vehicles and moving forward with electrification of 25 per cent of fleet vehicles by 2023.

The authority will also invest £50 million in the retrofitting of council homes with new heating systems and insulation to make them more environmentally sustainable.

Oxford City Council is also introducing Britain’s first Zero Emission Zone Pilot from 2021 in the city centre and a wider zone from spring 2022, alongside the UK’s largest EV charging hub at Redbridge this year.

Tom Hayes, Deputy Leader, said: “The city council is responsible for one per cent of the city’s emissions, but we know we can positively influence up to 66 per cent of Oxford’s emissions. With this Action Plan we are bringing together all of the council’s carbon-busting work in one place for residents and businesses to easily find and read. We also wanted to set out our underlying vision of why, as well as how, we’re committing so much time, energy, and focus to working with others to bring about a Zero Carbon Oxford ten years earlier than the government’s own legal target. What’s good for the environment is good for jobs and the local economy, air quality and our health, how we live and how we get around.”