Oxford City Council achieved an annual reduction of 8% in carbon emissions in 2024/25, with annual emissions for the organisation totalling 5,088 tCO₂e.
Oxford City Council achieved an annual reduction of 8% in carbon emissions in 2024/25, with annual emissions for the organisation totalling 5,088 tCO₂e. This represents a 31% reduction in emissions compared with its baseline levels in 2019/20.
Each year, the Council publishes its annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions report, which measures greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy and water use, fleet operations and business travel. The latest report covers the period from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.
Since 2014/15, the Council has worked towards a ‘Business as Usual’ emissions reduction of 5% each year. However, the Council’s target is to become net zero carbon across its own operations by 2030. To achieve this, it aims to reduce emissions by 10% annually against 2019/20 baseline levels.
The latest data shows the Council’s greenhouse gas emissions fell from 5,581 tonnes in 2023/24 to 5,088 tonnes in 2024/25, an 8% decrease year-on-year. This is a 2% improvement on the previous year's annual reduction of 6%.
Measures to reduce emissions
This 2024/25 reduction is largely due to changes made to the Council's reporting approach, which saw the removal certain site categories from the reporting scope, including temporary accommodation and vacant corporate, following advice from third party local government advisors.
The average temperature during the 2024/2025 reporting year was also cooler than the previous year, and therefore a significantly higher number of heating degree days was recorded. This resulted in an increased demand for heating across the Council's estate.
One way that this can be addressed in future years is through reducing the carbon emissions from heating. During the reporting year, the Council continued to invest in long-term decarbonisation projects and strategic planning to support its net zero ambitions.
As well as cutting carbon emissions, these projects can help reduce energy costs at a time when organisations continue to face rising energy prices. Decarbonisation projects commissioned during 2024/25 are estimated to save around £100,000 in energy costs each year, while reducing emissions by approximately 150 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO₂e) annually.
Key activities in this work included continuing to explore plans for a potential city centre heat network, which, in the longer term, could provide low-carbon heating to council-owned buildings and support city-wide decarbonisation.
The Council has been preparing for the introduction of the Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS) and has secured funding through the Heat Network Efficiency Scheme (HNES) to undertake studies across communally heated residential buildings. It is also progressing feasibility studies for low carbon heating options and wider heat decarbonisation measures across its building portfolio.
Other work to reduce Council emissions over the years has included LED lighting replacements, solar panel installations, enhancing building management control systems, installing energy efficient showers across the Council’s leisure centres, and improving the performance of heat pumps.
Looking ahead
The Council remains committed to reducing emissions further and continuing progress towards its net zero target. Planned activities for 2026/27 include:
- Continuing to progress a potential city centre heat network in partnership with key stakeholders.
- Completing heat decarbonisation studies across depots, community centres and sports pavilions, to identify potential future projects.
Tackling Oxford’s carbon emissions
Alongside its work to reduce emissions from its own operations, the Council continues to work with major organisations across the city through the Zero Carbon Oxfordshire Partnership, including universities, hospitals and businesses, to reduce emissions across Oxford.
Members of the partnership are working towards achieving net zero carbon emissions across Oxford by 2040 and across Oxfordshire by 2050.
Comment
Councillor Anna Railton, Deputy Leader, and Cabinet Member for a Zero Carbon Oxford said:
“I am pleased that we have continued to reduce our carbon emissions and have now achieved a 31% reduction against our 2019/20 baseline. Publishing this report each year helps us remain transparent about our progress and the challenges we face on our journey to becoming a net zero Council by 2030.
"We have continued to invest in decarbonisation projects and develop a clearer understanding of the measures needed to reduce emissions across our estate. From heat network projects and building optimisation studies to future heat decarbonisation plans, we are taking important steps to support our long-term climate ambitions.
“These projects are not only helping to cut carbon emissions, but also reduce our energy costs, with work commissioned during 2024/25 expected to save around £100,000 each year. This helps ensure we are delivering value for money for taxpayers while reducing our environmental impact.
"While this year's results are encouraging, we know there is still more to do if we are to meet our net zero target by 2030. Achieving an 8% reduction is positive progress, but we must continue to accelerate our efforts, invest in low-carbon solutions and identify further opportunities to reduce emissions across our operations in the years ahead.
“As an organisation we are responsible for around 1% of Oxford’s carbon emissions, but we remain committed to leading by example and working with partners across the city to tackle the climate emergency.”
