The grants, ranging from £85 to £3,000, will be used by organisations across the county to tackle the impact of high temperatures, floods, droughts, and storms in Oxfordshire caused by climate change.

The expanded community resilience small grants programme, administered by Community Action Groups Oxfordshire (CAG) and funded by £44,724 from Oxfordshire County Council, supports local events and activities which address or raise awareness of climate adaptation.

This year’s grants have increased from last year when 11 groups received a total of £12,000.

The money will help fund projects including practical ways to make homes more bearable during heatwaves, creating cooler community spaces, tree planting, growing food, harvesting rainwater, and tackling climate anxiety.

The full list of recipients can be found on the CAG Oxfordshire website.

Katherine Chesson, Director of CAG Oxfordshire, said: “Our role at CAG is to support community leaders who, in turn, are able to support their neighbours.

“With this strategic funding from the county council, we are able to make a direct investment in local knowledge and expertise in order to facilitate more connected, prepared communities from the impacts of the climate and nature crisis.”

Councillor Laura Gordon, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy, said: “The increase in funding allocated for these grants this year shows how important we believe it is to support communities in carrying out these projects.

“They are the experts and know their own areas better than anyone. This summer’s heatwaves were not one-off occurrences, but the new reality for the UK and we all need to adapt. So, it is inspiring to be able to help so many communities to help themselves tackle the heat and other instances of extreme weather.”

The awards also recognise that climate action will impact on people’s health and wellbeing.

Flooding in Oxfordshire in recent years brought this into the spotlight, with some people suffering a loss of livelihood and a negative impact on their mental health. These events are going to be more common going forward as extreme weather events become more frequent.

One of the recipients is the Cherwell Collective, which successfully applied in all three categories – heat safe homes grants, community resilience grants, and climate anxiety grants.

Victoria Russell, Programme Manager at Cherwell Collective, said: “We are incredibly grateful for the long and short term support of CAG Oxfordshire. The funds are going to help us tackle climate anxiety within Oxfordshire and go towards the work that Cherwell Collective is doing with the Oxfordshire Good Waste Charter, a grassroots initiative that is looking to pave the way for waste in Oxfordshire.”

The council has been increasing its focus on improving heat resilience in the county through a series of training and information events and seminars this year.

It has funded the CAGs to appoint a resilience coordinator to begin community-led learning and capacity building and launched a community of best practice for building resilience, with the first event taking place in September 2026.

Climate risks such as extreme heat, intense storms, and severe flooding are an increasing threat to public health, particularly for vulnerable residents, including older people, people with disabilities, and those with long-term health conditions.

In England, an estimated 2,877 heat-associated deaths occurred during this year’s May and June heat events alone. Many homes, schools, hospitals, public buildings, and other infrastructure are not designed for the weather events now being experienced and are becoming increasingly vulnerable.

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Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet today noted the biannual update on the delivery of its climate action programme.

Councillor Dr Pete Sudbury, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council with Responsibility for Climate Change, Environment and Future Generations, said: “We choose to lead on climate and to put it at the heart of everything we do because that is what this situation requires.

“Climate change is the greatest threat facing humanity and public bodies need to be on a war footing to tackle it. However, alongside this threat comes the opportunity to do things in a better, more sustainable way – heralding an end to pollution, an enhanced natural world and a fourth industrial revolution.

“We want Oxfordshire to be at the forefront of this because if we can’t make it work, with a world-leading innovation economy and the finest seat of learning in the history of human civilisation, then who can?”

The three pillars of the climate action programme are: becoming a climate active council; decarbonising the council’s estate and operations by 2030; and enabling Oxfordshire’s transition to net zero.

Cllr Sudbury added: “Ending climate pollution and especially fossil fuel use will bring in real benefits. In the last five years, our climate leadership, working alongside committed local partners, has pulled over £210 million of investment into Oxfordshire to make homes more energy efficient, expand electric vehicle charging, reduce waste, promote active travel and invest in electric buses.”

Emissions are being cut by the installation of energy efficient LED streetlighting across Oxfordshire. The project has cost £40m over four years but will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide being produced by 70 per cent and save around £75m in energy costs over the next 20 years.

A scheme to help schools improve their energy efficiency has been extended into 2024-25, and the council has also been providing home upgrade grants for low-income residents.

Another key task is to keep Oxfordshire’s people, businesses and institutions safe from an increasingly chaotic and destructive climate.

The council’s vital community services are directly threatened by more frequent extreme weather, including this winter’s flooding, and heatwaves, as experienced in Oxfordshire in 2022 when temperatures reached a record 38.4C.

Cllr Sudbury added: “We need co-ordinated action, both preventative and reactive, across all our areas of responsibility including emergency planning, highways, fire and rescue, flooding, public health and local nature recovery.

“We’ve been laying the foundations for that resilience with organisations and businesses across the county.”

The report highlights a heat health action plan, which has been developed to support vulnerable residents during possible heatwaves and planning for extreme heat.

The council has also been working with Exeter University on a toolkit, shortly to be released, to help local decision makers improve climate adaptation and resilience, and to develop bespoke climate adaptation action plans for council-maintained schools to reduce flooding and overheating.

The report also measures progress towards enabling Oxfordshire’s transition to net zero by monitoring scenarios in the Pathway to Zero Carbon (PAZCO) document. This is a publication partly commissioned by the council and produced by Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute and the sustainability consultancy Bioregional to provide an evidence base for the transition.

While most of these measures are not within the council’s direct control, it is able to influence a significant number of them. The council wants to work with the government on a to help accelerate decarbonisation for businesses, homeowners and public and voluntary sectors.

Cllr Sudbury said: “None of us are alone in this. There is a huge swell of energy, focus and determination across all sectors of our society to make the fundamental changes needed to survive and thrive, ending the pollution and destruction of the only planet we have.

“We need to work fast and hard and above all we need to work together.”

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In his annual report Ansaf Azhar has called climate change one of most significant threats to the population both in Oxfordshire and globally.

He said: “Our environment significantly influences our health. Recent flooding in Oxfordshire brought this into the spotlight, where some suffered a loss of livelihood and we saw a negative impact on mental health and wellbeing. These events are going to be more common going forward.

“This is why I want to talk about the health impacts of climate change and the positive benefits of climate action for individuals, families and communities.

“The actions that we can all take to improve climate health also immediately improve our health and the health of others.  All of us should to take positive climate action not just because of the environmental benefits realised years ahead, but the health benefits we will get from it immediately.    This means better health for everyone – whether we are talking about newborn babies, children, teenagers, working-age adults or older people.

“Everyone and every organisation has an important role to play. But individuals  cannot shoulder this responsibility alone. We need real structural change and joint partnership actions to mitigate and adapt to our changing climate and to improve health.

“We are already working hard together with partners to address our changing climate – with immediate and longer-term positive benefits for health and wellbeing, but there is still plenty more that we can all do.”

Producing an annual report is a requirement for all directors of public health. The reports look independently at issues which affect the health and wellbeing of the population in Oxfordshire and  make recommendations for improvement.

The report is available to read in full on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

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Oxfordshire County Council was rated top in Climate Emergency UK’s (CEUK) 2023 climate action scorecard, which was published this week.

Councillor Pete Sudbury, Oxfordshire County Council’s Deputy Leader with responsibility for Climate Change and Environment, said: “Congratulations and thanks to outstanding work by officers right across the council, including our amazing climate team, and for support across the political spectrum for achieving this result.”

For the scorecard, CEUK assessed all UK councils on the actions they've taken towards net zero. The scorecard assessment consisted of up to 91 questions, depending on council type, across seven sections.

Each council was marked against these criteria before the scores underwent a final audit. This work was completed between January and August 2023.

Oxfordshire County Council is committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030, significantly ahead of the national 2050 target. As well as this, it aims to enable Oxfordshire to become carbon neutral as early as possible in the 2040s.

It is also working in partnership with people and organisations right across the County to make Oxfordshire resilient to a changing climate.

Cllr Sudbury added: “There are two questions we need to keep asking: ‘What would we do if climate really was an emergency?...because it is'. And, ‘How do we keep our citizens safe, and our businesses and institutions working, as the impacts of extreme weather cause increasing damage, both locally and to our global supply chains?'

“These questions are at the forefront of our mind as a council and inform all the decisions we take. It is heartening to see that this work is being recognised.”

CEUK is a not for profit cooperative which has been working with councils and residents since 2019 to share best practice about what councils can do to tackle the climate and ecological emergency and to encourage effective action.

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Engineering firm ULEMCo has partnered with Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service to develop a hydrogen fuel cell that will extend the range of specialist electric vehicles including fire engines, ambulances and street sweepers.

Following a successful research period, the government has now awarded ULEMCo £3.9m to develop the project and potentially produce a prototype. The project is worth £7.8m, with industry matching the government’s financial contribution.

Funding for the ‘HYER Power’ project has come through the Advanced Propulsion Centre Collaborative Research and Development programme, which supports ambitions to build an end to end supply chain for zero emission vehicles in the UK. It is part of a £77m investment in seven collaborative UK heavy duty and commercial vehicle projects.

Councillor Pete Sudbury, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment, said: “Hydrogen could play an important role in our efforts to decarbonise. I’m delighted that we are partnering with ULEMCo on this important step in exploring and advancing zero carbon solutions.”

Rob MacDougall, Chief Fire Officer for Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We are absolutely committed to act towards our net zero target and building on the work we have already done to move part of our fleet away from internal combustion engines. Heavy fire engines pose a particular challenge and we feel that hydrogen powered fuel cells can play a promising role in delivering on the county’s climate action ambitions.”

Amanda Lyne, Managing Director of ULEMCo, said: “We are delighted to see this recognition and commitment to developing hydrogen mobility as part of the solution to net zero. Hydrogen is essential for viable zero emission solutions in applications such as emergency response vehicles due to the rapid refuelling that enables the vehicle to be ‘fit to go’, and to provide the full flexibility and range required for the job. Our strong relationship with Oxfordshire County Council will enable us to make rapid progress moving to production-ready hydrogen fuel cell designs.”

Nusrat Ghani, Minister for Industry and Investment Security, said: “This cutting-edge work is going to mean clean, green vehicles designed and built in the UK can increasingly take on the toughest jobs, from haulage to public transport. Our automotive industry keeps setting the pace globally when it comes to seizing the potential of new technologies. Today’s multi-million pound boost will help them stay ahead of the international competition, while continuing to support high quality jobs and economic growth.”

The research project, which was announced in 2021, involved creating a detailed model of the hydrogen energy requirement. This included the energy needed to pump water for a minimum of four hours, as well as the optimal range for such a vehicle.

The project comes as the county council works towards becoming a net zero carbon local authority by 2030 for its own operational emissions.

Other partners in the project with ULEMCo include Technical Services (UK) Ltd for cooling capability, Altair Ltd for vehicle energy system modelling, along with Emergency One for the fire engine solutions.

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Last March, Oxfordshire County Council was awarded £32.8 million from the government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme.

Along with £6m from the council itself and £43.7m from bus companies Stagecoach and the Go-Ahead Group, which includes the Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel, and City Sightseeing Oxford, the scheme will deliver the electric buses and the infrastructure to charge them.

Following the signing of contracts between the bus companies and the manufacturers, and the council’s approval of trial traffic filters in Oxford to help reduce bus journey times by at least 10 per cent in the city, confirmation of Oxfordshire’s ZEBRA scheme has now been finalised.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Management, said: “This is a huge boost in the move towards creating a sustainable, decarbonised public transport system, and improving air quality.

“We believe that, along with other schemes proposed in the county, this new fleet of electric buses will transform our public transport system and encourage more people to travel by bus.”

Rachel Geliamassi, Managing Director for Stagecoach West, said: “We're excited to be announcing this major milestone for Oxfordshire, which will be a major step forward in improving air quality across the region. This builds further on the major investment being made by Stagecoach across the country to support the transition to a zero emission bus fleet. 

"We look forward to working with our local authority partners on their plans to further decarbonise the city, which will help us to speed up journey times and attract more people out of their cars and on to reliable, sustainable public transport services." 

Luke Marion, Oxford Bus Company Managing Director, said: “This ground-breaking plan and significant investment will radically improve air quality in Oxford. We look forward to continuing to work with key partners to deliver this ambitious project, which will make bus travel an even better option for getting around our city."

Roads Minister Richard Holden said: “We want to see a better bus network around Britain and that means reliable, affordable, clean buses, and we will do everything possible to decarbonise our transport network and support skilled jobs in next generation bus manufacturing across the UK.

“We’ve already invested hundreds of millions of pounds to kick-start the rollout of zero emission buses nationwide, and it’s great to see Oxfordshire County Council, Stagecoach and Go-Ahead Group making use of our funding to transform its fleet to electric. This move will boost UK manufacturing, drive down emissions and improve bus services for people across the region.”

Councillor Louise Upton, Cabinet Member for Health and Transport, Oxford City Council, said: “Air pollution is a major cause of poor health in Oxford and cleaning up our bus emissions is an important step towards better air quality for everyone who lives, works, and visits Oxford.

“Buses are a vital part of how many people travel around Oxford, especially the 30 per cent of Oxford residents who do not own a car. Let’s not underestimate the importance of the county’s proposed congestion-busting traffic measures in giving the bus companies the confidence to invest in these electric buses. Hopping on a brand new electric bus, with free WiFi and stop announcements for the partially sighted, will make bus travel a much more attractive option for everyone.

“We are looking forward to seeing these new buses on Oxford’s roads as part of a zero emission bus network. It all helps to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and fulfil our aim of cutting the city’s carbon footprint.”

Transport is the largest contributor to nitrogen dioxide (NOx) emissions in Oxford, accounting for two thirds of the total emissions, with both diesel cars and buses contributing to roughly one third of the transport emissions each.

The arrival of the 159 electric buses is expected to support a further drop in NOx levels that will help clean up Oxford and Oxfordshire’s air pollution, reduce noise pollution and help make Oxfordshire a net zero carbon county well before 2050.

Oxfordshire was one of only 12 local authorities to successfully apply for ZEBRA funding and is one of the biggest schemes in the country.

All the new buses are being manufactured in the UK and are expected to arrive by March 2024. It will be one of the largest orders outside London and will mean that most services across the Oxford Smartzone will be operated by battery electric buses.

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Oxfordshire County Council is strongly urging the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) to withdraw its proposals to significantly cut planned investment and modernisation of energy infrastructure that will help people and organisations make the transition to greener energy.

The UK’s electricity system is set up in three parts: the generators, the distribution grids (which are split between national and local), and the end supply companies – to whom people pay their bills. Ofgem is conducting a consultation relating to the local distribution grid companies.

The local electricity grid companies, known as district network operators (DNOs), are in a monopoly position and, as a result, Ofgem approves their business plans for every charging period. With the next period (2023 - 28) Ofgem has released a consultation on what it is proposing to change to those draft business plans being submitted. They include short-term cuts in previously proposed levels of investment, which could lead to increased costs to the consumer in the long-term.

Three DNOs cover Oxfordshire: Western Power Distribution, which covers about 10 per cent of the county to the north around Banbury; UK power networks, which covers the areas around Thame and Chinnor; and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks, which covers the rest of Oxfordshire.

Councillor Pete Sudbury, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment, said: “We condemn the time and effort spent on a consultation that will have negligible impact upon bill payers, for whom the problem is in the order of thousands of pounds, while significantly disabling urgent and necessary modernisation.

“In light of the accelerating impacts of climate change and the clear and stark warnings from every reputable scientific body regarding the need to accelerate the energy transition, we must condemn, as reckless and foolish, any proposals that wilfully downgrade and slow that transition.

“We believe it is clear that cutting already inadequate investment in grid capacity to support future electrification of heat, transport, housing and employment growth will significantly impact Oxfordshire economically, environmentally and socially.

“No long-term cost impact assessment has been completed for this important decision. We estimate that the level of cost savings for householders will be minimal, around £10 per year, while the longer-term impacts will have a greater cost, especially to those on lower incomes. The October fuel cap will still be a staggering £3,549 per year.

“We have already seen several new commercial and residential developments experiencing prohibitively costly grid connection offers and delays. The work being delivered under the groundbreaking innovation project Local Energy Oxfordshire indicates the potential opportunities for flexible services and future needs of the transition from DNOs to district network service providers.

“With several electric vehicle companies, charging companies and supply chain organisations based within Oxfordshire, there is a direct impact upon the local economy from the proposals to provide a reduced number of EV connections.

“The Oxford Low Carbon Economy report estimated that seven per cent of the local economy was based upon the low and zero carbon industry, with the potential to add £1.35 billion to the local economy and an additional 11,000 jobs by 2030, with the correct policies. The proposed restrictions will have an ever further and growing constraining impact on the local economy and jobs.”

Oxfordshire County Council declared a climate emergency in 2019, as did the UK government. Working with other local organisations, the county council developed the Oxfordshire Energy Strategy and Pathways to a Zero Carbon Oxfordshire reports. Both allow a target of meeting net zero for the county by 2050 or earlier.

In its response to the Ofgem consultation, the county council has said it can find no evidence of any detailed assessment in which Ofgem has taken these factors into consideration when making its draft determination. The council considers that Ofgem would be failing to meet its duties and responsibilities if the proposal were approved given they include “to deliver net zero” and “ensuring a fair treatment for all”.

Councillor Sudbury added: “Electric vehicle uptake in the county is already well ahead of other areas (approximately 40 per cent share of new vehicle registrations in June 22, the highest rate in the UK) and we expect installation of heat pumps to increase significantly in the next five years. DNOs have regularly indicated the challenge for large scale uptake of EVs and heat pumps on low voltage networks, with several innovation challenges looking to directly address these areas.

“Climate impacts are already imposing very significant global and local costs. The requirement to decarbonise rapidly in this decade should be of the highest possible priority, to avoid much greater future costs and wider threats to our health, economic and social wellbeing.

“We have been clear to Ofgem that we think it is failing to meet its duties by making these proposals and we urge them to alter their plans.”

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It is the largest network of its kind in the UK, with groups working on transport, energy, biodiversity, social justice, food and waste. Projects range from running repair cafes and community fridges to developing community-owned solar farms. 

Oxfordshire County Council has been supporting CAGs for 20 years, organisationally and financially, and the expansion of these projects forms a cornerstone of the county’s climate strategy – for both cutting carbon emissions and for increasing community climate resilience.

Councillor Pete Sudbury, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment, said: “It is wonderful news that we are celebrating our 100th community action group in Oxfordshire. Every CAG is a piece of the jigsaw we need to put together when it comes to tackling climate change. They prove that the appetite is out there for meaningful change in the way we live our lives to combat this urgent threat.

“As a council, we want to make it as easy as possible for people to do the things that they know will make a difference and community action groups play a really important role in this.”

Henry Owen, Lead Coordinator at CAG Oxfordshire, said: “The CAG network has almost doubled in size in the last three years. This growth in people taking action locally shows the increased awareness of the issues around climate and the environment. 

“Supporting grassroots groups and activity not only feeds into the global impact on the climate crisis but also benefits individuals and communities through increased wellbeing, finding new connections to people and the natural environment and offers a collective a sense of purpose.” 

More details about CAG Oxfordshire are available on cagoxfordshire.org.uk

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The 100 per cent electric bus is coming to Bicester on the morning of Tuesday 7 September, before travelling to Oxford in the afternoon. The tour will be showcasing local innovators and solution creators, capturing inspiring carbon stories as it goes.

Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council and Cherwell District Council are hosting the events, at the Rose Hill community centre in Oxford and Bicester’s Eco-Business Centre. Participants can book to attend the events in person or view them online through a livestream.

Councillor Pete Sudbury, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change Delivery and Environment, said: “Effective action to address the climate emergency is at the heart of our work. Not only have we set ourselves ambitious carbon emission targets to lead by example, speeding up the process of cutting emissions wherever we can, but, much more importantly, we have put climate and environment impacts at the core of our strategic thinking, especially around transport and growth. We are also accelerating our work mapping immediate climate risks from extreme weather and ensure that our disaster planning is up to the task of keeping our citizens safe.

“The world needs to come together at COP26 to tackle climate change and we hope the people of Oxfordshire can help to inspire action in others by showcasing the work that is being done here when the zero carbon bus visits on 7 September. We need large-scale action, fast.”

At the events, Oxfordshire’s businesses and other organisations can take part in carbon reduction workshops and get practical net zero advice. The workshops will be provided by Planet Mark – a leading sustainability and net zero certification group – and forms part of the UN-backed Race to Zero and Together for Our Planet campaigns.

Tom Hayes, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Green Transport and Zero Carbon Oxford at Oxford City Council, and Chair of the Zero Carbon Oxford Partnership, said: “The climate crisis didn’t go away during the pandemic. The science is clear: our warming planet is requiring us to respond right here, right now. Every citizen and business has a chance to understand what they can do to heal the planet, help each other, and protect lives. Everyone can find out how taking action isn’t as big, scary, and expensive as it might seem – indeed, it can bring about a better, cheaper, and happier way of life.”

Councillor Barry Wood, Leader of Cherwell District Council, said: “The COP26 summit later this year will hopefully concentrate the minds of the world on the importance of tackling climate change globally. At a local level, Cherwell District Council has recognised the climate emergency and is committed to getting to net zero carbon, both as a council and as a district, by 2030. The visit of the zero carbon tour bus to Bicester’s innovative Eco-Business Centre will be a chance to showcase some of the great work that is already being done here – by councils, businesses and community groups – as well as to learn from other organisations about better ways of reducing emissions.”

August’s hard-hitting Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report showed just how serious the climate crisis really is, stating: “It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, oceans and land.”

Businesses and organisations in Oxfordshire, and across the UK, must therefore be encouraged to take action now to reduce their carbon emissions and help create a healthier planet and society.

Steve Malkin, founder and CEO of Planet Mark, said: “We are delighted to be collaborating with Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council and Cherwell District Council on this zero carbon tour flagship event as part of the Together For Our Planet campaign in the build-up to COP26. We look forward to gathering in person and online with the Oxfordshire community to talk about how all businesses and organisations, no matter their size, can contribute to the fight against climate change by committing to net zero carbon. Through the critical Race to Zero campaign we can all play a part in our planet’s future”.

The events will empower local firms and their employees to become part of a greater national effort to protect our environment by demystifying what is needed to achieve net zero. It will also highlight the good work many companies are already doing to address their carbon output.

Local topics and organisations being showcased at the Oxfordshire events include:

• Bicester’s Elmsbrook Eco Town
• The Park and Charge electric vehicle programme
• Bicester Green, the community-based reuse and repair organisation
• The concept and features of the Bicester Eco-Business Centre itself
• Low Energy Oxfordshire and the Low Carbon Hub
• Oxfordshire Greentech, the business network for a low carbon future
• Pedal & Post on transport matters
• Good Food Oxfordshire on sustainable food.

The scheduled bus stops on 7 September are part of Planet Mark’s zero carbon tour, which will see the fully electric powered carbon battle bus visit 30 towns and cities across the UK. The tour began in Cambridge and will finish in Glasgow for COP26.

Businesses, community groups and members of the public can sign up for tickets or to view the live streaming to the 7 September events at Oxford or Bicester online through Eventbrite.

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The council’s climate action programme project is one of six finalists in the Leadership in Responding to the Climate Emergency category of the Municipal Journal (MJ) Awards 2021.

Bill Cotton, Oxfordshire County Council’s Director of Environment and Place, said: “We are delighted that this programme has been shortlisted for an MJ Award and it highlights how Oxfordshire County Council is leading the way when it comes to tackling climate change at a regional level. “COVID-19 has changed our world and re-emphasised the need for climate action. The council is committed to enabling a zero carbon Oxfordshire and transforming our organisation to be carbon neutral by 2030.”

The council acknowledged the climate emergency in 2019 and published its Climate Action Framework in October 2020, setting out its commitments, which include playing a full role in enabling a zero carbon future for Oxfordshire, halving emissions by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050.

Councillor Dr Pete Sudbury, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate and Environment, said: “We are committed to taking real action to tackle the climate and ecological emergencies and it is gratifying to know that these efforts are being recognised. We recognise the increasing urgency of action and the need to increase both the pace and scale of our actions.

“Enormous changes are needed over the next decade, but across Oxfordshire, with our citizens and partners, we have the knowledge, drive, vision and energy to put this county at the leading edge of the global drive towards a greener, fairer, sustainable society.”

Climate action is a key priority for the new council leadership and its commitment to a zero carbon future is integrated into strategies, decision-making and service planning..

The council’s iHub, one of the largest in-house local authority innovation teams in the UK, has helped develop pioneering technology, business models and policy alongside its many partners countywide. Examples include:

• Local Energy Oxfordshire, which is exploring how a smarter local electricity system could work and benefit households, businesses and communities.
• Trialling the country’s first zero emissions zone in central Oxford in partnership with Oxford City Council to reduce carbon emissions and air pollution.
• Developing the Oxfordshire electric vehicle infrastructure strategy in partnership with the county’s district councils to help more people make the switch from fossil fuel vehicles.
• A mapping tool to identify opportunities for tree planting across the county.

The council is also stepping up its action on corporate emissions through a series of measures, including:

• Bringing its approach to the climate emergency in line with the stringent proposals in the Climate and Ecology Bill.
• Taking account of all of its climate impacts, including outsourced services and those resulting from council decisions
• Converting Oxfordshire's streetlighting to LEDs, which will result in a 70 per cent reduction in CO2, by 2026.
• Replacing its cars and vans with electric vehicles by default.
• Using green grid electricity on its corporate estates and maintained schools since 2020.
• Ongoing estate decarbonisation and energy generation projects.
• Solar investment including a grid application for a solar farm.

Other areas where the council has taken early climate action include implementing walking and cycling initiatives across the county, recycling and composting 58.8 per cent of all household waste – the highest in England for the seventh year in a row – and trialling carbon management pilots for major infrastructure projects to reduce emissions.

The winner will be announced at the awards ceremony in London on Friday 17 September. Oxford City Council is among the other finalists, alongside Cornwall Council, the London Borough of Hounslow, Manchester City Council and Stroud District Council.

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The report, released on 24 June, said: “The government has made historic climate promises in the past year, for which it deserves credit. However, it has been too slow to follow these with delivery.”

Among the report’s key messages were: “This defining year for the UK’s climate credentials has been marred by uncertainty and delay to a host of new climate strategies. Those that have emerged have too often missed the mark. With every month of inaction, it is harder for the UK to get on track.”

Councillor Dr Pete Sudbury, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet member for Climate and Environment, said: “The mismatch between setting out lofty ambitions and not acting at anything like the level necessary is unacceptable. We all know it is easy to say the words, and much more difficult to act, but action is all that matters.

“Kicking the can down the road in the face of a serious threat to our health, wellbeing and economic stability is short-sighted and foolish. This council has pledged real action on climate. The first step is to be clear about the size of the problem, the second is committing to work with and for all of our citizens on tackling it.

“Oxfordshire County Council is committed to taking action at the pace and scale required to play its part in repairing our climate and environment. We need to account for all the emissions for which we are responsible, including from outsourced IT services and road repairs, as well as the climate and ecological impacts of new roads we are responsible for building. At the same time, we need to work with partners and citizens across the whole county to halve emissions by 2030. What we do this decade really matters.

“We recognise that this is an extremely demanding target but it is time we did what is needed, not just what is convenient. Rapid actions on emissions and restoring the natural world are an absolute necessity, not just ‘nice to have’.”

Cllr Sudbury said it was the council’s intention to frame its strategy around the provisions of the draft Climate and Ecology Bill, currently going through parliament. This involves:

• Setting and managing targets to decarbonise its own activities as fast as possible, but at minimum in line with its share of the global carbon budget for 1.5C.
• Addressing the climate and ecological emergencies in tandem – matching emissions reduction with nature protection and recovery.
• Taking full account of its impacts on the planet – cutting emissions and ecological impact wherever they happen.
• Support the development of a ‘circular economy’ – minimising waste and ending the ‘throwaway society’.
• Involving representative groups of citizens directly in decision-making – this is about all of us and our shared home.
• A socially just transition, not leaving anyone behind.

The county council was one of many organisations involved in commissioning the report as part of its commitment to a zero carbon future, as outlined in the Carbon Action Framework published last October. The council particularly welcomes the importance of the report in providing an evidence base for the transition to zero carbon and the role of partnerships in achieving these goals.

Councillor Dr Pete Sudbury, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change Delivery and Environment, said: “We are leading the way in cutting carbon, from getting our own house in order by replacing the county’s streetlighting with energy efficient LED alternatives, to working with Innovate UK to develop a net-zero energy system for Oxfordshire.

“The decade to 2030 is a critical period to accelerate the decarbonisation of our economy. Building on the momentum that has been growing over the last ten years is a huge challenge, as acknowledged in the report. We will review the findings and recommendations in detail with our internal programme board and with our partners around the county so that we continue to respond to this climate emergency with the innovation, determination and dedication that it requires.”

Oxfordshire County Council was awarded the Green Homes Grant by the government. The council will be working together with expected delivery partner the National Energy Foundation (NEF) to help less well-off households retrofit their homes with energy saving equipment – cutting families’ fuel bills while at the same time helping to reduce the county’s carbon footprint.

Councillor Yvonne Constance, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “For families with limited disposable incomes, affording the necessary improvements to make their homes more energy efficient is especially difficult. This welcome government grant allows us to reach out to some of these householders in our area, helping to make their homes more environmentally friendly and saving money on energy bills too.”

The grant, part of the Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery (LAD) scheme, was awarded after a competitive application process to help lift families out of fuel poverty. This is when a household has above average fuel costs and these costs would take their residual income below the official poverty line.

There is a strong link between properties with poor energy efficiency and fuel poverty and respiratory illnesses.

In Oxfordshire, 20 per cent of properties fall into the worst energy efficiency categories, according to the Energy Saving Trust. In 2017, 8.5 per cent of Oxfordshire households were in fuel poverty, while respiratory conditions are estimated to affect 50,000 people.

As well as improving the quality of life of the individual households, the scheme will also help the council work towards its goal of enabling Oxfordshire to become zero carbon by 2050. Residential carbon emissions make up 25 per cent of emissions in the county.

NEF, a registered charity with expertise in energy efficiency and fuel poverty, will work with the county’s five city and district councils (Cherwell, Oxford City, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and West Oxfordshire) to identify properties that fit the criteria. Eligibility factors include low household incomes and low energy efficient homes. Areas of deprivation will be targeted.

Lord Callanan, the Minister for Climate Change and Corporate Responsibility, said: “Local counties across south-east England are already taking strong action on climate change. Our funding today will help the region meet these ambitions and build back greener, helping people to heat their homes cleanly and cheaply while securing green employment across the area.

“The funding for these exciting housing schemes is levelling up in action. Households across the southern region will enjoy warmer homes, save money on their bills and reduce their carbon footprint in the process, all while supporting and protecting over 8,000 green jobs across the country.”

The scheme will focus on insulation as a method of improving energy efficiency, with each chosen property receiving work worth up to £10,000.

Although households will be targeted and cannot directly apply for this Green Homes Grant funding, other services are more widely available. These include the Better Housing Better Health Service delivered by NEF that provides general warmth and wellbeing support to Oxfordshire – go online at bhbh.org.uk for more information.

Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet has given its backing to a number of measures and principles aimed at improving the environment while taking into account the need for growth and its work within partnership groups.

At the heart of these measures was the council’s commitment to:

• Reducing its own emissions to become zero carbon by 2030 and enabling Oxfordshire to become carbon neutral by 2050, as set out in its Climate Action Framework.
• Developing a resilience to the impacts of climate change in Oxfordshire.
• Bringing about renewal of the natural environment including enhancing biodiversity.

Councillor Yvonne Constance, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “Carbon reduction has long been seen as the main target of climate action, but we are also recognising the other pillars to the work that needs to be done.

“One is resilience where we actually have to find some ways of responding to the impact of climate change because we’re not going to beat it all. The other is renewal, with the attention focussed on how to achieve the revival of natural environments as growth moves alongside it.”

Cabinet members agreed at their 16 March meeting to:

• Support the setting up of an environment advisory group to the Oxfordshire Growth Board.
• Endorse a series of shared principles with other constituent authorities for protecting, restoring and enhancing the built and natural environment within the Oxford-Cambridge Arc.
• Support the development of an Ox-Cam Arc environment strategy.
• Note the progress made on the development of a local nature partnership for Oxfordshire.

The Oxford-Cambridge Arc is an ambitious plan to maximise the economic and cultural potential of the region encompassing Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire, to transform it into one of the world’s premier growth corridors and become a world leader in sustainability.

The Arc’s environment principles will embrace green spaces, housing standards, sustainable transport, energy generation and transmission and water management and conservation. Its environment strategy will help deliver these goals.

Oxfordshire is one of the few areas nationally not to have a local nature partnership, and the only county without one in the Oxford-Cambridge Arc. Its creation would bring together organisations in a collaborative way to help manage the natural environment.

Plans for the Oxfordshire Growth Board’s environment advisory group will improve the county’s ability to take advantage of the Department for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs’ 25 year environment plan. This plan sets out a comprehensive approach to protect, restore and enhance landscapes and habitats, as well as creating new nature areas.

Cllr Constance added: “The county council has a good track record of partnership working and I think this statement of intent is a very significant move towards recognising the other pillars of work to be done on the environment.”

Oxfordshire County Council cut its own corporate carbon emissions by eight per cent from April 2019 to March 2020, beating its target of six per cent. The replacement of boilers and streetlighting with more energy-efficient models, the installation of solar panels and the purchase of more electric vehicles were all factors in the reduction.

Councillor Yvonne Constance, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet member for Environment, said: “We made a promise last year to put climate action at the heart of everything we do, and these figures show we are delivering on that promise. The measures put in place mean 1,132 tonnes of carbon dioxide have been saved from ending up in the atmosphere.

“We are committed to becoming a carbon neutral council by 2030. We are making wide-ranging changes to the way we work and also laying the groundwork for Oxfordshire to go zero-carbon by 2050 by delivering infrastructure, forming partnerships for joint action.”

Oxfordshire County Council declared a climate emergency in April 2019 and developed a Climate Action Framework in 2020 to set out how to achieve its net-zero goals.

One of the key projects is the programme to replace the county’s streetlights with highly efficient, environmentally friendly LED (light-emitting diode) alternatives. Scheduled to take four years to complete, the county council is investing £40 million over this period, which also includes upgrading columns – but is expecting it to lead to savings of more than £75m over the next 20 years.

The move will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide being produced by 70 per cent. Currently, the county’s street lights account for around 7,596 tonnes of CO2 every year – representing nearly 35 per cent of the council’s own operational emissions.

More than 2,800 streetlights were replaced in 2019/20, saving 245,109 kWh of electricity, and helping the council to exceed its emissions target for those 12 months.

And last week, a lighting upgrade project started at the county council’s park-and-rides at Thornhill and Oxford Parkway. It will introduce high-efficiency LED lighting technology with units pre-programmed to dim 50 per cent at night, increasing savings even further. And because they don’t need to warm up to reach full light capacity, they can be switched on slightly later – saving of 31 tonnes of CO2 a year and reducing energy usage by 70 per cent.

There will be no loss in quality as the new lighting will also be more clearly directed towards brightening both sites to help users feel safer and result in lower surrounding light pollution.

Jason Russell, Oxfordshire County Council’s Interim Director of Communities, said: “The decade to 2030 has been called ‘the decade of action’ against climate change. While it is true that over the next nine years remaining emissions will become progressively harder to eliminate, we are making substantial progress by taking early action to reduce energy consumption. This will maximise savings and help future-proof our services, assets and investments.”

The Climate Action Framework is affecting all aspects of council policy and responsibility, including:

• Replacing its fleet with electric vehicles (EVs) and creating more EV charging points.
• Generating its own clean power and buying from green energy sources.
• Seeing what services can be delivered digitally.
• Promoting active travel such as walking and cycling.
• Reducing its demand for energy.
• Setting sustainability standards for its suppliers.
• Helping schools meet their low-carbon targets.
• Maximising waste reduction and recycling.

Along with 20 other investors responsible for more than £2 trillion of assets, the Oxfordshire Pension Fund has made the pledge through the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC). It will use the IIGCC’s Net Zero Investment Framework, which was announced today (Wednesday).

Oxfordshire County Councillor Kevin Bulmer, Chair of the Oxfordshire Pension Fund Committee, said: “The Oxfordshire Pension Fund is delighted to join other investors in signing up to the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change’s net zero commitment. The priorities of the commitment align with those of the pension fund and provide an important step in it delivering on its own climate change policy.

“The Net Zero Investment Framework enables the pension fund to coordinate with the investment industry to become part of the solution to climate change. We look forward to working towards delivering on the commitment.”

The commitment covers both decarbonising existing investments as well as increasing investments in climate solutions. It is hoped that the framework and commitment are the first steps to defining an industry standard approach to net zero investing.

The fund also aims to ensure investors are working to help deliver the Paris Agreement on climate change, which is to keep global warming below 1.5°C.

The IIGCC has also teamed up with three other investor groups to drive net zero commitments and uptake of the framework globally. Other organisations to join the framework include the Church of England and the Environment Agency.

Oxfordshire County Council has joined Oxfordshire Greentech (OG) as its local authority innovation partner. Business network OG was set up in 2019 to bring together a wide range of commercial interests, academia and other organisations to encourage innovation, collaboration and knowledge transfer as a response to the climate emergency.

Councillor Yvonne Constance, Oxfordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “The council sees climate action as central to our vision for a thriving Oxfordshire, with a resilient economy, future-proofed infrastructure and liveable, healthy communities.

“We are joining Oxfordshire Greentech as its local authority innovation partner to help deliver our Climate Action Framework, which we published in October. It gives us an opportunity to collaborate with businesses who are driving the zero-carbon transition in Oxfordshire.”

Oxfordshire County Council’s partnership with OG will build on the authority’s commitment to seeing Oxfordshire as a ‘Living Lab’ for low-carbon solutions. The council’s iHub already develops partnerships with businesses and academia to help find solutions that benefit residents and the economy.

Alongside its existing innovation partnerships in transport – such as the electric vehicle charging initiative park and charge ­– it wants to develop new collaborations and networks with businesses.

Lewis Knight, Strategic Director of Oxfordshire Greentech, said: “We are delighted to welcome Oxfordshire County Council as Oxfordshire Greentech’s local authority innovation partner as part of its commitment to create a resilient economy based on zero-carbon jobs.

“With its strong support for sustainable initiatives, such as the Living Labs approach and iHub, the county council brings great opportunities for collaboration which will increase the momentum towards a zero-carbon Oxfordshire.”

Bicester-based OG has more than 100 members and is growing, even during the pandemic, as more companies see the benefits of sustainable business and new, circular economy, business models.

The network is not just relevant to tech companies; a wide range of organisations play an active role such as funders, architects, support services, and interior designers. This creates a green ecosystem providing everything organisations need to make their sustainable business flourish.

Members benefit from receiving market intelligence, connecting with the suppliers, customers and support organisations and can get help to make their own operations more sustainable. OG provides regular updates, events and networking, pitching and ‘Meet the Buyer’ opportunities.

OG is a collaboration between sustainability charity, Bioregional, and sister network Cambridge Cleantech. Members of one organisation automatically have affiliate membership of the sister network, opening up an even wider array of events and opportunities to connect.

As part of Oxfordshire County Council’s partnership with Oxfordshire Greentech, any company in Oxfordshire wishing to join the network can get 10 per cent off basic membership until January 2022 (use code OCC10).

That’s the message from Oxfordshire County Council leader Ian Hudspeth as the authority’s Cabinet approved its Climate Action Framework on Tuesday, October 13.

The document sets out the county council’s plans to make itself a carbon neutral organisation by 2030, and to enable Oxfordshire as a whole to become zero-carbon by 2050. It acknowledges that the council and the county have adapted to cope with coronavirus, and that some of these adaptations have helped reduce carbon emissions.

Cllr Hudspeth said: “The ‘decade of action’ required on climate change has begun with the COVID-19 pandemic. It has changed our world almost overnight.

“We are experiencing a moment in time at which our pace of learning and appetite for change is rapid. We have adopted new skills and adapted how we live and work.

“It is this ingenuity that we will draw upon as we address the climate emergency. We will ‘build back better’ for a zero-carbon, resilient economy, strong communities and a healthy place to live.”

One of the priorities for the council’s Climate Action working group is to retrofit the county’s streetlighting with highly efficient, environmentally friendly LED (light-emitting diode) streetlights.

Scheduled to take four years to complete, the county council is investing £38m over this period – but is expecting it to lead to savings of more than £75m over the next 20 years. As well as the retrofitting, the £38m will also fund the replacement of 23,000 lighting columns which are nearing the end of their lives.

The move will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide being produced by 70%. Currently, the county’s street lights account for around 7,596 tonnes of CO2 every year – representing nearly 35% of the council’s total emissions.

Oxfordshire County Council, which is working jointly with Cherwell District Council, declared a climate emergency in April 2019. It followed this up with a public commitment in November 2019 to prioritise action on climate change across the council’s decision-making, services and activities.

The Climate Action Framework will affect all aspects of council policy and responsibility, including:

• Replacing its fleet with electric vehicles (EVs) and creating more EV charging points
• Generating its own clean power and buying from green energy sources
• Seeing what services can be delivered digitally
• Promoting active travel such as walking and cycling
• Reducing its demand for energy
• Setting sustainability standards for its suppliers
• Helping schools meet their low-carbon targets
• Maximising waste reduction and recycling.

Cllr Yvonne Constance, Cabinet member for Environment, said: “Oxfordshire has a unique foundation from which to build a zero-carbon future, thanks to our proactive and engaged communities, charities and voluntary sectors; world-class academia; a proactive public sector; and a track record of collaboration on transport and energy challenges.

“The future we are aiming for will not be based on business-as-usual decision-making. Zero carbon is integral to our vision for a thriving county.

“Zero-carbon jobs and future-proofed infrastructure will create a resilient economy and help us achieve liveable, healthy communities.”

To read the Climate Action Framework in full go to https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/sites/default/files/file/about-council/OCC_Climate_Action_Framework2020.pdf

Journey speeds coming into Oxford in the morning rush hour now average 10.6mph, that’s a 1mph slower than in 2012.

In the first half of 2019, there were 65 days when speeds on at least one radial road fell to under 5mph during the morning rush hour.

The latest figures collected by transport planners show that travelling from Witney to the Headington area currently takes 82 minutes on a bus in the morning peak and travelling from Abingdon to Oxford Business Park currently takes 62 minutes.

The two councils see buses as one of the solutions to transport problems and are working on bold plans to tackle congestion, poor air quality and the gaps in public transport connections between some parts of the city, particularly on the eastern side.

Impacts of congestion affect us all

Traffic data also confirms the daily experience expressed by drivers travelling into and around Oxford.

Councillor Yvonne Constance, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “Public transport is the answer to many problems – it can be cleaner, greener and more convenient if the right conditions are in place.

“Bus journeys are taking longer because of the increase in the number of private cars on the roads. Without positive action now travelling will only get more difficult as Oxfordshire’s success with a thriving economy means more homes and potentially even more cars.

“The county and city councils are committed to a better transport future for all who live or work in Oxford. We need to think differently about private cars on the roads and how we can improve journeys overall for drivers, bus users, cyclists and pedestrians.”

Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, Oxford City Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Sustainable Transport, said: “The city and county councils have been working closely to examine the effects of traffic and congestion when travelling across Oxford and when entering the city.

“The number of private cars on some city roads means buses are slowed down by congestion, but to be attractive to passengers, services need to be quick and reliable. So to make journeys on public transport quicker and more reliable for users we need to give buses priority over the private car.

“The two councils are working together on how we can get passengers quicker from A to B.”

Since 2015 the county council has been working on projects to improve journey times into and around Oxford as part of the Local Transport Strategy, including Access to Headington, the joint Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) proposals with Oxford City Council, and corridor studies for Botley Road and other routes.

But the slowing of journey times over the last five years shows that more needs to be done to reduce congestion, and increase the number of bus, cycle and pedestrian journeys.

Transport planners are working on new proposals designed to improve journeys into the city and improve connections to the ‘Eastern Arc’ from Headington to Cowley.

Phil Southall, Managing Director of the Oxford Bus Company, said: “Congestion has a huge impact for us, delaying journeys and leading to decreased frequency.

“Our costs also increase because we need more buses to deliver the timetable. Reliable and flexible buses are crucial to cutting down on the number of individual car journeys. We need a radical way of unclogging the roads and welcome potential changes.”

Chris Coleman, Managing Director of Stagecoach in Oxfordshire, said: “We welcome and support any action that contributes to reducing congestion in the city and across the county. Well planned schemes that include the delivery of bus priority will support bus operators in providing reliable bus services and encourage more people to look at alternatives to car use"

The council already has a long-term programme to cut carbon emissions. Now, inspired by the young people’s determination, Councillor Yvonne Constance, member for the environment, has announced that, later this year, there will be a review of existing commitments to cut carbon emissions by 3% annually.

There has already been an average 6% per year reduction in the council’s carbon emissions since 2011; that’s double the target.

But Councillor Constance is determined to do more.

She said: “We will set ourselves ambitious but achievable targets. We are determined to make a big stride in the right direction.”

Oxfordshire County Council is already delivering a series of ‘green’ initiatives, including helping install more solar panels on schools.

Solar Schools is a partnership between the council and not-for-profit organisation Low Carbon Hub, funded from resident shareholders who make an ethical investment to fund solar panels for a small annual return.

Brookside School, in Bicester, is the latest to benefit from the scheme; panels were installed over the recent half term holiday.

The 20 Oxfordshire County Council maintained Solar Schools generate electricity to the equivalent needed to power 150 households, saving over 260 tonnes of carbon per year.

As part of its ‘big switch’, the council is committed to replacing the remaining 50,000 street lights with low energy lighting over the next four years. This will reduce Oxfordshire’s greenhouse emissions from streetlighting by 70%.

The investment will also include a communications system between streetlights, allowing dimming of groups of lights when they’re not needed.

The council supports a 65 strong network of Community Action Groups (CAG) at the forefront of community-led climate change action. They organise events and projects on issues including waste, transport, food, energy, biodiversity and social justice.

Groups are working to establish community fridges to reduce food waste and share surplus. They run workshops, teaching residents how to repair items, keeping products in use for longer. Working with local businesses, they help them reduce their impact on the environment; for example, Abingdon Carbon Cutters. And recruit refill stations for water, such as Refill Oxford, and detergents (SESI) to reduce waste from single use plastics.

County Councillor Yvonne Constance said:

“Today’s schoolchildren will inherit what we leave behind. It is unforgiveable if that’s a polluted planet, damaged by global warming and rising sea levels. I admire the determination and passion of these young people.

“Oxfordshire County Council is proud to be at the forefront of many ‘green’ initiatives, from the 20 Solar Schools, to reducing our ‘carbon footprint’, better waste management, and working in partnership with residents and volunteers as a thriving community.

“But we’re not complacent, and we recognise the challenge everyone faces to reduce waste, and prevent global temperatures rising.

“We will do more, because we want our children, and our children’s children to have a bright future. A ‘green’ future.”