Environment and climate change

Our aspiration is to conserve and enhance our natural and built environment but balancing this against economic drivers and the impact of climate change will be a challenge. Key issues will be:

• Reducing our carbon footprint and adapting to climate change.
• Ensuring that development is located to avoid urban sprawl and is sustainable.
• Preserving the character of the city, our market towns and villages.

We pledge to:

• Reduce the carbon emissions from public sector organisations and to set an example for businesses and others in the county.
• Reduce waste and increase re-use and recycling by households and businesses.
• Minimise the effects and risk of flooding.
• Ensure new development is built to high environmental standards.
• Promote efficient use of water and energy.
• Keep Oxfordshire clean and green.
• Preserve and enhance the biodiversity of the county.

Current position

Our climate is changing. Temperatures are likely to rise by 1.8-4.0º C by the end of the century, depending on the extent of remedial action to reduce carbon emissions. The increase in the next 20-30 years (between 0.5-1.0º C here in the UK) will probably happen regardless of remedial action because of the impacts of carbon already emitted.

Within Oxfordshire we are privileged to enjoy an exceptional environment with beautiful countryside and outstanding architecture. Our environment is precious and the impacts of climate change will be wide ranging and have a huge impact on our lifestyles as well as our economy.

Tackling and adapting to climate change and protecting our environment are therefore two of the most important issues we face. Everyone can play their part, by reducing waste, energy and water consumption and minimizing car use.

We already experience water shortages, heat waves, intense winter storms and flooding. Climate change will increase the frequency, severity and cost of such events and could have devastating impacts, especially on those whose future is dependent upon their environment. It is therefore important that we take measures both to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Limiting our carbon emissions

A number of public, private and voluntary and community sector organizations have developed action plans for reducing their carbon footprint. An increasing number of businesses are doing this too, recognizing that reducing carbon emissions is both good for the environment and can reduce financial costs.

Some of the measures to reduce emissions require investment, such as improved building insulation or better heating and lighting controls, but a great deal too can be achieved through changes in behaviour e.g. switching off electrical appliances when they are not in use.

Disposing of waste in landfill sites is not sustainable because of its effect on greenhouse gas emissions and the associated financial penalties which imposed by government. Therefore reducing waste and then finding better ways of dealing with it is vital. Oxfordshire's domestic waste levels are already low and recycling rates are high compared with the rest of the country, but international comparisons are less favourable. The Oxfordshire Waste Partnership has agreed a strategy for reducing waste and increasing reuse and recycling, but even if recycling rates matched the best in Europe there will still be a need for new waste treatment arrangements. The county council is in the process of procuring treatment facilities for food, garden and residual waste. The latter waste will be burned in a new plant currently proposed to be built at an existing landfill site at either Ardley or Sutton Courtenay. The plant will provide electricity for the grid and potentially combined heat and power.

Protecting the environment

Oxfordshire has four National Nature Reserves, more than one hundred Sites of Special Scientific Interest, seven special areas of conservation, and many local nature reserves. There are three areas of outstanding natural beauty; the Chiltern Hills, the Cotswolds and the North Wessex Downs. Oxford city provides an important historic environment and at the heart of the county, Blenheim Palace and Parks is a world heritage site, and there are over 200 conservation areas and thousands of listed buildings across Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire currently has the most effective county biodiversity partnership in England. Almost everyone in Oxfordshire has access to wildlife through public rights of way and open green space, bringing well recognized benefits for health and wellbeing.

Our priorities

For the future our priorities are:

• To address flooding risks.
• Reduce the landfill of waste.
• Reduce our carbon emissions and adapt to climate change.
• Dealing with the environmental impact of population growth and development while maintaining the character of our towns, villages and countryside.

How will we measure success?

By 2030 we expect:

• Commercial and domestic waste reduction, re-use and recycling comparable with the best in Europe.
• Public sector and domestic energy and water use below UK average.
• All new housing developments to include sustainable drainage.
• Oxfordshire's greenhouse gas emissions reduced to levels comparable with the best in the UK - a 50 per cent reduction in CO2, on 2008 levels by 2030.
• Oxfordshire's natural and built environment preserved.  

Our priorities for action

Details of action planned for the medium and longer term are set out in the accompanying delivery plan.

Key partnerships to develop the theme

• Oxfordshire Waste Partnership
• Oxfordshire Environment Group
• Climate Change Partnership

previous | next | have your say on the draft strategy