Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Place, Environment and Climate Action

Forward Plan Ref: 2025/147

Contact: Ariane Crampton, Climate Policy and Partnership Manager

Report by Director of Economy and Place (CA9)

Refresh of the Council’s Climate Action Framework. The previous one was adopted 2020.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:-

a)    Approve the Oxfordshire Climate Action Framework 2026-2030.

Recommendations approved.

Cabinet had before it a report on the Oxfordshire Climate Action Framework (CAF) 2026-2030 which outlined the council’s vision for achieving a greener, fairer, and healthier county. The framework built on on previous work and aimed for carbon neutrality in council operations by 2030 and net zero emissions countywide by the 2040s, integrating emissions reduction, resilience, nature recovery, and waste reduction with a collaborative approach.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, presented the report.

The Head of Climate Action and Zero Carbon Oxfordshire Policy and Project Lead gave a presentation on the main aspects of the framework.

The framework emphasised collaboration with businesses, anchor institutions, community groups, and the Zero Carbon Oxfordshire Partnership, aiming for a holistic programme benefiting residents and supporting sustainable growth.It was organised around eight themes, including green skills, sustainable transport, energy and buildings, nature recovery, and waste, with delivery priorities such as skills boot camps, retrofit programmes, EV charging expansion, and landscape-scale nature projects.

During discussion, Cabinet members referred to the challenges in meeting climate targets, particularly in transport and housing, the need for more robust action and influence over external stakeholders, and the importance of continued lobbying for national funding. Examples of progress included the introduction of electric buses, commitments to zero-carbon developments, and the use of policy tools such as congestion charges and traffic filters to support climate goals, but members acknowledged the need for further action.

Councillor Roberts moved and Councillor Gregory seconded the recommendation, and it was approved.

RESOLVED to approve the Oxfordshire Climate Action Framework 2026-2030.