Zero Carbon Oxford Partnership welcomes COP26

Organisations and businesses across Oxford, including Oxford Brookes University, have issued a letter welcoming the start of the COP26 summit and highlighting the need for concentrated action from the Government.

The ‘Letter from Oxford’, which was sent to COP26 President, Alok Sharma, welcomes the Government’s leadership on climate change, but highlights that additional commitments are required in order to unlock faster decarbonisation at a local level.

Professor Alistair Fitt, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University, said: “The coming together of the international community for the COP26 summit reiterates that the climate crisis is a global emergency. We have an important local role to play in achieving net-zero carbon emissions here in Oxford with our Zero Carbon Oxford Partners.”

Collaborative action to reduce emissions

 

The letter has been issued by the Zero Carbon Oxford Partnership and highlights that while the Partnership has opportunities for collaborative action to reduce emissions, there is also a need for concentrated action from government to unlock progress across several areas, building on the commitments made in the Government’s Net Zero Strategy:

• Long term and reliable funding for energy efficiency, building on learnings from the Green Homes Grant and the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme

• Rapid investment in public and active transport to support Oxford achieve a 25% reduction in road transport by 2030

• Coordinated market mechanisms for local flexibility and network reinforcement to allow significant electrification of heat and transport

The ambition of Zero Carbon Oxford Partnership is to work with the Government to accelerate the adoption of clean and sustainable energy in Oxford and across the UK.

Experts can help tackle climate change

Councillor Tom Hayes, Chair of the Zero Carbon Oxford Partnership, said: “In Oxford, we have scientific experts on how to tackle to climate change, and the Zero Carbon Oxford Partnership is a coalition of willing and enthusiastic organisations from across the city who are all dedicated to becoming a Zero Carbon Oxford by 2040–ten whole years ahead of the national legal target.”

Professor Fitt continued, “Sustainability is at the heart of our University’s campuses and activities, from teaching to our world-leading research. We’re committed to sharing our expertise to help the city achieve its ambitious target, and I am proud that Oxford Brookes University is supporting the Zero Carbon Oxford Charter and the far-reaching ambitions of the partnership.”