The latest Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP 2026-2030) replaces the 2021 Air Quality Action Plan. The 2026-2030 Air Quality Action Plan was adopted by the Council in February 2026 following public consultation.
Air Quality Action Plan 2026-2030
Oxford's Air Quality Action Plan 2026-2030 sets out how the city will continue to reduce harmful air pollution and protect public health.
Building on major progress over the last decade (including a 52% drop in NO₂ levels, Oxford is now committing to a new, ambitious target: Reducing annual average nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) to 20 μg/m³ by 2030 ("20 by 30").
To achieve this, the Plan includes 30 actions across four priority areas:
- Encourage active travel and reduce car use
- Accelerate zero‑emission transport
- Reduce emissions from homes, industry and services
- Empower communities and raise awareness
Why this matters
There is no safe level of air pollution, and it continues to impact health across all life stages. The plan aligns Oxford with the latest WHO guidelines and puts the city among the UK’s leaders for clean‑air ambition.
Download the Air Quality Action Plan 2026-2030 and the Public Consultation report on the plan
Air Quality Action Plan 2021
This Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) has been produced as part of our statutory duties required by the Local Air Quality Management framework. It outlines the actions we will take to improve air quality in Oxford City from 2021 to 2025. It also fits within and furthers our wider ambitions to improve air quality, health, and climate.
The key objective of this AQAP is to bring NO2 emissions into legal compliance as soon as possible.
However, we also want to reach beyond legal compliance for the whole city. Oxford City Council is committing to becoming the first UK Local Authority to set a local annual mean NO2 target in a citywide AQAP. The overall objective of this AQAP for the whole of the Oxford City area is to:
Achieve a local annual mean NO2 target of 30 μg/m3 by 2025 “30 by 25”
To be able to meet this target, we have developed a set of 30 actions and measures that we will deliver together with our partners and which sit within four priority areas of intervention:
- Developing partnerships and public education;
- Support for the uptake of Low and Zero emission vehicles;
- Reducing emissions from domestic heating, industry and services;
- Reduce the need to travel, explore opportunities for mode shift and increase the uptake of sustainable transport.
Download the 2021 Air Quality Action Plan
Air Quality Action Plan 2013
The Councils current Air Quality Action Plan highlights measures to improve local air quality in order to meet the air quality objectives within the city. Further measures to improve air quality will be considered within the Oxford Area strategy of Oxfordshire County Council's Local Transport Plan for 2015-2030 (LTP4).
The 2013 Air Quality Action Plan prioritises measures to deliver sustainable road transport and improve air quality.
The AQAP identifies six key themes:
- Support for development of sustainable transport measures
- Support for the uptake of low and zero emission vehicles
- Reducing freight emissions
- Planning for sustainable transport
- Managing the Council's transport emissions
- Developing partnerships and public education
Download the 2013 Air Quality Action Plan
2006 AQAP - Progress
A number of significant measures have been implemented in conjunction with Oxfordshire County Council over the last decade, notably:
- The development of the Quality Bus Partnership delivering integrated ticketing and leading to reductions in bus numbers
- The Transform Oxford initiative which has increased pedestrianisation and re-located bus stops
- A bus based Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in central Oxford from 2014
- Investment in cleaner greener vehicles by bus operators
