Climate Change in Oxford

Climate change will affect us all and local authorities have a responsibility to lead by example firstly by reducing their own environmental impact and then encouraging others to do likewise. We also need to prepare for the climate changes that will happen over the next 30 years.

What is Oxford City Council doing about climate change?

Since 2005 Oxford City Council has had a Climate Change Action Plan and in April 2008 we agreed our carbon management plan called Getting Our House in Order.

We have committed to:

• reducing council CO₂ emissions by 25% by March 2011
• increasing the uptake of low carbon systems in Oxford
• raising awareness & understanding of climate change
• increasing the energy efficiency of new developments
• transforming Oxford into a sustainable city

What have we achieved so far?

	Oxford is my World

We have published an award winning guide to sustainable living. Copies of Oxford is My World - Your Guide to Saving the Planet are available to download electronically or in printed format from the Oxford is My World website. You can also request a copy of the guide by using the link at the bottom of this page.

• Our leisure centres are one of our largest energy users so we have been looking at ways of reducing their energy use. We have recruited energy champions to make sites more energy aware and installed various energy saving technologies such as insulating pool covers
• We have had two 'Power Down' weekends which resulted in an 8% reduction in energy use in 5 of our buildings
• We have been working with Partnerships for Renewables to investigate the potential for the development of community-scale wind energy developments on council owned land
• All Oxford City council buildings are now on a green electricity tariff
• We have signed up to the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change
• We have smart energy and water metering technologies in place at four council buildings - the Town Hall, Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre, Ferry Sports Centre and the Oxford Ice Rink - to reduce consumption of gas, electricity and water we use and are planning to add more smart meters to large consuming sites
• We have taken part in the Carbon Trust's Local Authority Carbon Management Programme (CMP), which resulted in establishing a Carbon Management Programme for Oxford City Council - Getting Our House in Order
• We have installed solar powered showers at Hinksey Pool and solar thermal systems in a number of Council owned sheltered homes
• Nearly all of our 8,000 council properties has cavity wall and loft insulation. The remaining stock is due to be insulated shortly
• We supply energy advice and grants to householders and community groups, see Home Energy Advice for details
• We require new building projects greater than 10 units (or 2000m²) to have 20% of energy provided through on-site generation using renewable and low carbon technologies. See thedocument below for more details:

How have we helped Oxford households reduce their carbon footprint?

• We have helped improve domestic energy efficiency in council housing by 25%. We are on track to meet the government housing energy efficiency improvement target of 30% by 2010
• Over the last two years we have secured government funding to get free insulation for over 1,500 households of over 60s or those on a low income
• We are working with British Gas to deliver free insulation to over 70s and households in receipt of benefits, also a £75 council tax rebate for those who are able to pay. Visit our Grants and Offers page for more details
• We have grants for energy efficiency improvements for households who do not receive benefits but are struggling to pay their energy bills
• We have produced the following guides to saving energy:

• We compiled the award-winning guide and website Oxford is My World: Your Guide to Saving the Planet in partnership with local businesses and community groups
• The Oxford Solar Initiative resulted in over 100 solar hot water and solar electric installations

• We organised Climate Change Oxford - What you can do now! - a conference and exhibition in the Town Hall on World Environment Day 2007. More information about the conference and the presentations can be found on Oxford is My World

Looking Ahead

We are already on the path to becoming a lower carbon council but could Oxford City Council one day become zero carbon?

Please see an information sheet about zero carbon councils from the Local Government Information Unit below:

What You Can Do about Climate Change

Visit our What You Can Do about Climate Change page for information about what individuals in Oxford can do about climate change and what help is available.

Preparing for Changes

Visit our Preparing for Changes page on adpating to climate change to find out about how to prepare for future changes.

Page last reviewed 7 Nov 2008