The Head of Corporate Strategy has submitted a report to seek approval to amend the Council’s emissions reduction target for its estate and operations and to establish a Net Zero Transition Fund, reflecting advice from the Council’s Scientific Advisor.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.    Approve the amendment to Oxford City Council’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction target for its estate and operations to focus solely on achieving net zero carbon by 2030, thereby changing the Council’s use of terminology to reflect advice from the Council’s Scientific Advisor and to align with the emerging definition of net zero;

2.    Approve the Council’s continued commitment to net zero, with the same planned absolute reduction in carbon emissions by 2030;

3.    Approve the diversion of funds already allocated in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 budgets for green gas purchase and offsetting to be used instead to create a ‘Net Zero Transition Fund’, which will direct resources towards additional emissions reduction actions;

4.    Note that these amendments will be incorporated into the Council’s 4th Carbon Management Plan to reflect new best practice and advice from the Council’s Scientific Advisor and help to settle the evolving consensus on the emerging definition of net zero; and

5.    Note the Council’s commitment in the Carbon Management Plan to develop a greater understanding of ways to reduce Scope 3 emissions and develop a Scope 3 emissions reduction plan. This work will commence in 2022/23. 

The Head of Corporate Strategy had submitted a report to seek approval to amend the Council’s emissions reduction target for its estate and operations and to establish a Net Zero Transition Fund, reflecting advice from the Council’s Scientific Advisor.

Cllr Tom Hayes, Cabinet Member for Green Transport and Zero Carbon Oxford, introduced the report  which would contribute to the Council’s ambition of achieving net zero by 2030 by repurposing existing funding to secure additional reductions. It was noted that it seemed unlikely that existing gas boilers  could be converted to run off green gas as had been suggested in some quarters; the predominate solution was likely be through the installation of heat pumps. The challenges of securing sufficient heat pumps had been recognised and steps were being taken to stimulate local production of them. There was a lack of consistency in the definition of  ‘zero carbon’ and related matters throughout  Council documentation  and this should be addressed.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.    Approve the amendment to Oxford City Council’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction target for its estate and operations to focus solely on achieving net zero carbon by 2030, thereby changing the Council’s use of terminology to reflect advice from the Council’s Scientific Advisor and to align with the emerging definition of net zero;

2.    Approve the Council’s continued commitment to net zero, with the same planned absolute reduction in carbon emissions by 2030;

3.    Approve the diversion of funds already allocated in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 budgets for green gas purchase and offsetting to be used instead to create a ‘Net Zero Transition Fund’, which will direct resources towards additional emissions reduction actions;

4.    Note that these amendments will be incorporated into the Council’s 4th Carbon Management Plan to reflect new best practice and advice from the Council’s Scientific Advisor and help to settle the evolving consensus on the emerging definition of net zero; and

5.    Note the Council’s commitment in the Carbon Management Plan to develop a greater understanding of ways to reduce Scope 3 emissions and develop a Scope 3 emissions reduction plan. This work will commence in 2022/23.