West Oxfordshire District Council Launches New Climate Change Strategy to Drive Districtwide Net Zero by 2050

West Oxfordshire has made significant progress in carbon reduction and is helping to accelerate the drive to net zero through energy advice services, targeted grant funding for low-income households, energy planning and building decarbonisation. The Council has cut its own emissions through reducing energy demand. Alongside this, climate resilience is being strengthened through planning for climate impacts and implementing nature-based solutions.  West Oxfordshire has been named the top performing rural district in the UK following the release of the 2025 national Council Climate Action Scorecards, a significant achievement that highlights our collective commitment to reducing carbon emissions and building climate resilience across the district. Partnership working, innovation and behavioural change are key to making rapid progress. 

The strategy, which runs from 2025 to 2030, outlines a net zero pathway for reducing carbon emissions across West Oxfordshire. It builds on the Council’s ongoing commitment to tackling the climate and ecological emergency declared in 2019 and supports priorities set out in the Council Plan 2023-2027.  

“This strategy signals our clear intent to continue leading the way in addressing the climate and ecological emergency.” said Councillor Andrew Prosser, Executive Member for Climate Action and Nature Recovery. “Through our continued efforts, we’re not only working to reduce emissions, we’re building a more climate-resilient, nature-rich district where communities are better protected from flooding and extreme weather, economic losses are reduced, and access to cleaner air and natural spaces improves everyone’s quality of life.”  

“Everyone has a role to play, and by working together, we can create a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future for West Oxfordshire.” 

The Climate Change Strategy sets out actions that will have the most impact, focusing first on reducing emissions before offsetting any residual carbon through verified measures. It is supported by the Council’s Carbon Action Plan 2024-2030 and the West Oxfordshire Nature Recovery Plan 2024-2030, both of which outline coordinated actions to achieve net zero and enhance biodiversity. 

Key features of the strategy include: 

• A pathway to districtwide net zero by 2050 

• Annual monitoring and reporting to ensure accountability and transparency 

• Cross-sector collaboration to maximise impact through partnerships 

• Co-benefits such as improved air and water quality, increased thermal comfort in homes, upskilling of the local workforce, and enhanced green spaces 

The strategy recognises that achieving these goals depends on external factors such as national policy, funding availability, and technological advancements. The Council has recently recruited a Climate Change Officer to support delivery and will continue to seek external funding wherever possible. 

While the proposed Local Government Reorganisation may come into effect within the life of this strategy, having a longer-term strategy for West Oxfordshire will enable any new council to continue the work and maintain progress.