Agenda item

Pathways to a Zero Carbon Oxfordshire Report

For action: To consider the outcomes from the Oxfordshire Zero Carbon Economy Study and how it impacts on and can inform the Growth Board’s programmes.

Minutes:

The Chair invited Stefan Robinson, Oxfordshire Growth Board Manager, to introduce this item. Mr Robinson explained that while the summary document was included in the agenda, a hyperlink to the full report could be found in both the agenda pack and online. The Pathways to a Zero Carbon Oxfordshire Report had been commissioned by 12 public, private and community organisations – including the six Oxfordshire councils – and been developed by the Environmental Change Institute at the University of Oxford. It built upon a 2014 report concerning the low carbon economy.

 

All of Oxfordshire’s councils had either declared or acknowledged a climate change emergency and the recently agreed Oxfordshire Strategic Visions had contained a range of environmental commitments. The Pathways Report was considered a comprehensive and independent evidence base that would become central to climate change policy thinking and delivery. It was, therefore, important that it gained a high profile among partner organisations. 

 

Sam Hampton, Lead Author of the Pathways report from the Environmental Change Institute, explained that the 2014 Low Carbon Economy report highlighted opportunities to grow the sector and the competitive advantage that Oxfordshire has in this area. However, the context was now very different, and carbon reduction innovations are no longer a subset of the wider economy, but central to it. Oxfordshire is on track to achieve a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030. Solar energy is the most promising renewable asset available to Oxfordshire, and the report covers the need to ensure that land is allocated specifically for this purpose.

 

While progress has been made, the pathway to net zero will become increasingly difficult. Therefore, there needs to be a step change in the deployment of solar panels on rooftops and in fields. Moreover, the use of heat pumps must be scaled up significantly to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels for heating – these can, however, only work effectively if they are installed in energy efficient properties.

 

Sam explained that the report identified three pathways to net zero. The first focussed on social, behavioural, and cultural change, where residents are highly engaged in the process. The second has a technological focus, relying on innovations in areas such as hydrogen power. And the third is Oxfordshire Leading the Way, leading nationally on low carbon innovation and going faster than elsewhere to reduce emissions.

 

Myth busting was an important issue to consider, and the report brings clarity to the public discourse. For example, achieving net zero by 2050 was said to be very difficult, and achieving it well before then will be even more so. There may be opportunities to align targets and work collectively in this area to support delivery.

 

Local Authority members of the Board offered their thanks and support for the report, which was expressed to be excellent, timely and thought provoking. Members were of the view that there must be joined up working in carbon reduction across councils and partner organisation if targets are to be met, and there is already some excellent work underway across Oxfordshire, including with the universities.

 

Some members emphasised the importance of setting aside land specifically for solar energy production, and the significant scale and cost associated with retrofitting the existing housing stock to improve energy efficiency, including in public buildings. The report brought some needed clarity to these issues which would be helpful in informing the next stages of council work. However, there was a need for strong support from HM Government to deliver fully in this area, such as through more effective regulations. It was confirmed that the report would be presented to the Environment Advisory Group meeting on 3 August 2021, where it could be considered in more detail, with the aim of developing some practical areas of action that can be taken forward.

Peter Nolan, OxLEP Business Representative, explained that heat pumps and PV Solar Panels were considered expensive. The cost of these items must come down to increase uptake. The emphasis on local innovation in the report was welcomed, but he highlighted the need to stimulate a competitive UK market to make use of the commercial opportunities created by retrofitting programmes.

 

In response to the comments made, Dr Hampton explained that newly built homes would, for the most part, be compatible with heat pumps. The significant challenge in this area would be their efficiency in relation to existing homes. With regards to the use of hydrogen as a source of energy for transport, he suggested that this may not be deployable until the late 2030s. Therefore, there remained scope to increase electric vehicle take up in the medium term.

In concluding, Dr Hampton said that a further report in five years would provide a good opportunity to review progress and reassess the context of this work. He also offered support for the use of UK based companies which can provide energy saving products and innovations.  

RESOLVED: That the Growth Board:

 

1.     Welcomes the report as an authoritative evidence base for informing strategic planning in Oxfordshire with respect to local zero carbon ambitions.

 

2.     Requests that the emerging Growth Board Environment Advisory Group consider the outcomes of the report at a future meeting.

 

3.     Requests that each Growth Board member use the report to drive action at pace within their own organisations in the short and long term.

Supporting documents:

 

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