Issue - meetings
Carbon Offsetting Strategy
Meeting: 18/11/2025 - Cabinet (Item 173)
173 Carbon Management Plan Residual Carbon and Offsetting Policy 
PDF 348 KB
Cabinet Member: Place, Environment and Climate Action
Forward Plan Ref: 2025/180
Contact: Sarah Gilbert, Climate Action Team Leader
Sarah.gilbert@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Report by Director of Economy and Place (CA11)
The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to
(a) Note the need for the purchase of carbon credits to offset the residual emissions in the Carbon Management Plan (CMP) to meet the council’s commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030.
(b) Note the improved clarity of terminology and use of ‘carbon neutral’ to refer to the council’s 2030 target for estate and operations.
(c) Adopt the policy outlined in Annex 1 to target high-integrity use of carbon credits that maximise local benefits.
(d) Note the action plan outlined in Appendix 1 of Annex 1 to enable progress towards acquiring carbon credits and support growing the market for local carbon removal projects.
Additional documents:
- Carbon Offsetting Policy Annex 1, item 173
PDF 594 KB
- Carbon Offsetting EIA Annex 2, item 173
PDF 692 KB
- Carbon Offsetting CIA 2025 Annex 3, item 173
PDF 226 KB
Decision:
Recommendations approved.
Minutes:
Cabinet received a report on Oxfordshire County Council’s Carbon Management Plan (CMP), which focussed on residual carbon emissions and the strategy for offsetting to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. It outlined the need for carbon credit purchases, the rationale for terminology, and the approach to local market development and governance.
Councillor Judy Roberts, Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, presented the report.
Councillor Roberts moved and Councillor Higgins seconded the recommendations, and they were approved.
RESOLVED to:-
(a) Note the need for the purchase of carbon credits to offset the residual emissions in the Carbon Management Plan (CMP) to meet the council’s commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030.
(b) Note the improved clarity of terminology and use of ‘carbon neutral’ to refer to the council’s 2030 target for estate and operations.
(c) Adopt the policy outlined in Annex 1 to target high-integrity use of carbon credits that maximise local benefits.
(d) Note the action plan outlined in Appendix 1 of Annex 1 to enable progress towards acquiring carbon credits and support growing the market for local carbon removal projects.