The Zero Carbon Oxfordshire Charter

Zcop brand assets
Zcop brand assets

Zero Carbon Oxfordshire Charter

The Zero Carbon Oxford Summit in 2021 concluded with the signing of the Zero Carbon Oxford Charter and the formation of the Zero Carbon Oxford Partnership (ZCOP).

Photo of Oxford - High Street by Toa Heftiba

Originally agreed by the 21 leaders who attended the Summit, this charter now applies to the expanded Zero Carbon Oxfordshire Partnership, reflecting the broader scope of the initiative across the county. All new Partners are required to sign the ZCOP Charter, signifying their commitment to the Partnership’s work and support for Oxfordshire’s goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050 or sooner. 

ZCOP aims to help reduce 88 percent of Oxford’s carbon emissions by 2040 – icon

Setting carbon targets, monitoring and reporting

  • Collaborate to achieve net zero carbon emissions for the county of Oxfordshire.
  • Support the efforts of the county as a whole to stay within its five-yearly carbon budgets (as set in the Oxfordshire Net Zero Route Map & Action Plan) that aim to achieve net zero by 2050. We will take these targets into consideration when making plans to reduce carbon emissions from our own estates and operations. 
  • Support local carbon reduction targets which seek to achieve net zero earlier than 2050, where relevant-1.
  • Establish a shared framework to monitor progress against these targets and report publicly on an annual basis, along with reviewing the targets and increasing ambition if it is feasible to do so in terms of changing policy, technology or finance.  

1- Oxford City: 2040, South Oxfordshire: 2045, West Oxfordshire: 2050, Vale of White Horse: 2045, Cherwell: 2030  
 

ZCOP's roadmap has 5 key sectors - icon

Taking action

  • Contribute to the development and adoption of further partnership plans needed for Oxfordshire to meet these carbon targets and improve the county’s resilience to climate change. 
  • Identify any gaps or impediments at a local or national level to implementation, and recognise the topics listed in the partnership’s scope. 
  • Recognise the wider non-carbon benefits climate action can bring, including sustainable economies, local prosperity and healthier environments, and seek to deliver on other related policy. 
ZCOP has 22 partners across Oxford - icon

Collaborative working

  • Work collaboratively to accelerate the rate of carbon emissions reduction and climate change adaptation within the county, exploring opportunities to work on shared projects that deliver greater carbon emission reductions than we could achieve individually. 
  • Support sharing best practice and piloting sustainable innovations. 
  • Engage with local communities to ensure initiatives meet their needs and support community-led schemes. 
  • Collectively identify funding sources to support ZCOP and the delivery of climate-related activities within the county. 
  • Jointly advocate the UK Government to provide the regulatory, infrastructural and funding support necessary to achieve net zero carbon emissions and adaptation to the impacts of climate change. 
  • Encourage other organisations to join the Partnership, generally promote the work of the Partnership and engage with staff, customers and service users about climate issues.  
ZCOP aims to help reduce 88 percent of Oxford's carbon emissions by 2040 - icon

Governance

  • Support the ZCOP Steering Group and recognise accountability is through collective and fair scrutiny. 

We commend the progress to date made in Oxfordshire on tackling climate change and sustainability issues and call on all organisations and businesses in Oxfordshire to sign the Zero Carbon Oxfordshire Charter and help to create change for good.

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