Environment and climate change
Dreaming spires, rambling green spaces, buildings steeped in rich history: few could doubt that we enjoy an exceptional environment. We recognise our important role as custodians of the environment now and for future generations. Our challenge is to protect our areas of natural beauty while meeting the demands of a 21st century lifestyle and an expanding and ageing population. We recognise that the future of our environment is closely linked to the national and international response to the global challenge of climate change. We are committed to making our contribution.
Individuals, communities, the public sector and businesses will all need to play their part both in reducing carbon emissions and making our county as resilient as possible to the effects of climate change.
Our aspiration is to conserve and enhance our natural and built environment while balancing this against the needs of a thriving economy and the impact of climate change.
Key issues are:
- Reducing our carbon footprint and adapting to climate change.
- Ensuring that all developments reduce carbon emissions and increase resilience to climate change.
- Preserving and enhance the character of our city, our market towns and villages.
- Enhancing the quality of the natural environment, landscapes and biodiversity.
- Addressing flooding risks.
- Reducing the landfill of waste.
- Dealing with the environmental impact of population growth and development while maintaining the character of our towns, villages and countryside.
- Protecting and enhancing biodiversity.
Current position
Our climate is changing. Temperatures are likely to rise by 1.8-4.0° 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.
A good quality local environment can help improve health, reduce crime and contribute to our economy. Our environment is precious and the impacts of climate change will be wide ranging and affect our lifestyles and economy. We recognise the need to ensure that ambitious growth plans and the need for new housing do not adversely affect the rural and built environments that give Oxfordshire its character and provide valuable recreational resources for the whole community. We want to keep Oxfordshire clean and green – improving street and environmental cleanliness is a priority.
Access to transport is crucial to our aim of balancing environmental and economic needs. Our park and ride schemes, priority bus routes and the real-time bus information service make public transport accessible and user friendly. We continue to have the highest public transport use of any county.
Tackling and adapting to climate change (managing and reducing the impact of climate change on our environment) and protecting our environment are two of the most important issues we face.
We already experience water shortages, more extreme weather conditions, 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 work together to tackle climate change and plan for its impacts - both the positives and negatives. We can all play our part, for example, by reducing our waste, energy and water consumption and using greener transport options.
Managing the impact of climate change
A number of public, private and voluntary and community sector organisations have developed action plans for reducing their carbon footprint. An increasing number of businesses are doing this too, because they recognise that reducing carbon emissions is both good for the environment and can reduce their costs. Using resources effectively and reducing wastes are economically critical to businesses. Supporting our businesses to be efficient with resources is part of them becoming and remaining world class.
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, for example: switching off electrical appliances when they are not in use. The use of renewable sources of energy also needs to be explored.
Disposing of waste in landfill sites is not sustainable because of its effect on greenhouse gas emissions, the speed at which landfill sites are being filled, and the associated financial penalties which are 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 (which includes the five Oxfordshire districts and the county council) 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 & 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. Within Oxfordshire we have access to wildlife through public rights of way and open green space, bringing well recognised benefits for health and well-being.
We pledge to
- Reduce carbon emissions and improve energy and water efficiency by public sector organisations, and encourage residents and businesses to do the same.
- 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.
- Support individuals, communities and businesses, to respond to climate change and to improve efficiency in their use of energy and water.
- Keep Oxfordshire clean and green.
- Protect and enhance the biodiversity of the county.
- Reduce the gap between the best and the worst off by targeting our work appropriately.
How will we measure success?
By 2030 we expect:
- Commercial and domestic waste reduction, re-use and recycling to be comparable with the best in Europe.
- Public sector and domestic energy and water use below the 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% reduction in CO2, on 2008 levels by 2030.
- Oxfordshire's natural and built environment is preserved, protected and enhanced.
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
- District Local Strategic Partnerships
