Our Vision & Strategy
Our vision for a zero-carbon Oxfordshire
By 2040, Oxford is aiming to reach net zero – cutting emissions as far as possible and working together across organisations, sectors and communities to accelerate change.
By 2050, Oxfordshire will be a zero-carbon, climate resilient county. Clean energy will power everyday life, low-carbon travel will be the default, buildings will be efficient and comfortable, and nature will be restored and thriving.
We are not just responding to climate change. We are shaping a better Oxfordshire – healthier, fairer, and more resilient – where the benefits of the transition are shared by all.
ZCOP brings partners together to make this happen faster and more effectively than any organisation could alone.
Where we need to act now
Reaching net zero means focusing on the areas where emissions are highest and where change makes the biggest difference. In Oxfordshire, those challenges are already part of everyday life.
Buildings
Many homes and workplaces still depend on fossil fuels for heating and are not energy efficient. As a result they produce unnecessary emissions and cost more to run. Improving buildings offers one of the biggest opportunities to reduce emissions while improving comfort and affordability.
Transport
Transport continues to be one of the largest sources of emissions, driven mainly by road use. While progress is underway, we need to reduce demand, shift more journeys to to walking, cycling and public transport, and accelerate the move to zero-emission vehicles.
Energy
We will need significantly more electricity in the future as we electrify heat and transport. At the same time, Oxfordshire has strong potential to generate more renewable energy locally, especially solar.
Nature and Land
Our natural environment already plays a role in storing carbon, but we can do much more: restoring habitats, improving land use efficiency, and strengthening biodiversity across the country.
Oxfordshire is growing quickly. This growth must work differently as new homes, infrastructure and economic activity need to support a zero-carbon future, not add to the challenge.
From Vision To Action
By 2050, the changes we’re making now will be visible across the country:
- Homes and buildings are warm, efficient and affordable to run.
- Most journeys are made by walking, cycling, or public transport, with remaining vehicles zero-emission.
- Energy is cleaner, more local, and more resilient.
- Nature is richer and supports healthier communities.
- The transition has created new jobs, skills and opportunities across Oxfordshire.
What we’re focusing on now
ZCOP’s role is to focus effort where working together makes the biggest difference. Right now, that means working with partners to:
- Accelerate decarbonisation of domestic and non-domestic buildings.
- Support the shift to low-carbon transport.
- Expand clean, locally generated energy.
- Build the skills and supply chains needed for delivery at scale.
- Develop collaborative solutions to shared challenges.
These priorities reflect the scale of changes needed – from upgrading buildings and transforming transport, to scaling up new technologies and approaches.
How ZCOP makes this happen
ZCOP works because of its partners, and because those partners actively contribute to our work.
Across the partnership, organisations are:
- Taking action within their own operations.
- Working together on shared priorities and projects.
- Bringing expertise, data and insight to shape solutions.
- Influencing wider systems, policy and invetsments.
- Championing climate actions across their sectors and communities.
This collective effort is essential. No single organisation can deliver this transition alone, but together, we can move further and faster.
Supporting evidence and roadmaps
Our approach is grounded in detailed analysis and evidence, including:
- The Zero Carbon Oxford Roadmap and Action Plan
- The Pathways to a Zero Carbon Oxfordshire (PaZCO)
These provide the technical detail behind the vision and help us track progress, adapt where needed, and keep moving forward together.
Below, you can explore the existing Zero Carbon Oxford Partnership (ZCOP) Roadmap for Oxford and the ‘Pathways to a Zero Carbon Oxfordshire’ report for the county.
If you need these PDFs in an alternative format or have any accessibility requirements, please contact us at [email protected]
County Perspective
