To support the objective in the Strategic Vision and the corporate plans of Oxfordshire’s councils to achieve a net zero Oxfordshire, the Future Oxfordshire Partnership commissioned the development of a route map and action plan for the county. Building on existing work, such as Pathways to a Net Zero Carbon Oxfordshire (PaZCO) and the  Zero Carbon Oxford Partnership (ZCOP), the Route Map and Action Plan identifies joint actions that the Oxfordshire local authorities can take together to provide a catalyst for positive action to achieve net zero across the region.

The resulting Net Zero Route Map and Action Plan (City Science, 2023) details:

• The emission reductions necessary to achieve net zero by 2050
• The key milestones in 2025, 2030 and 2040
• Carbon budgets of maximum emissions that can be emitted to maintain this pathway
• KPIs to track progress
• Recommended areas for FOP members to work on jointly to accelerate action

The plan identifies 14 actions to be implemented to help realise collective net zero ambitions. The collaborative action plan does not replace individual organisation’s net zero strategy and workplans, or statutory documents and activity such as Local Plans or the Local Transport & Connectivity Plan.

At its meeting in March 2023, the Future Oxfordshire Partnership endorsed the Net Zero Route Map and Action Plan and phased delivery of the identified joint actions. Five action areas were prioritised.

The prioritised actions from the Net Zero Route Map and Action Plan being taken forward as core FOP workstreams are as follows:

• Develop an on-going Local Area Energy Planning (LAEP) function
• Accelerate the roll out of publicly accessible EV charge points
• Buildings decarbonisation:
  • Expand and scale up retrofit delivery
  • Scale up programmes to address the retrofit skills gap
  • Develop a collective purchasing approach that supports the widespread deployment of rooftop solar on existing buildings
• Explore opportunities to enhance carbon sequestration through land use change, including targeted habitat restoration and creation
• Explore new funding mechanisms to support delivery of net zero activity

An update on countywide emissions and progress toward net zero targets will be provided to FOP and the respective advisory groups on an annual basis.