The creation of the Partnership and implementing change

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Zcop brand assets

History of Zero Carbon Oxford Partnership

Follow the journey of the Partnership and our work below.

How we work

Zcop brand assets
Zcop brand assets
Panoramic aerial view of Oxford in a beautiful summer day, England, United Kingdom

Steering Group

The Zero Carbon Oxford Steering Group comprises a sub-set of Partners who are strategically important to achieving a net zero Oxford before 2040, with additional responsibility for delivering the overall commitments of the Zero Carbon Oxford Partnership. 

Partners in ZCOP can be invited to join the Steering Group subject to the agreement of its members; membership is voluntary and can be decided on by each member annually. The Chair of the Steering Group is appointed by the members on an annual basis.

The Steering Group meets quarterly to address the following: 
  • Review progress on the commitments set out in the Zero Carbon Oxford Charter including progress towards agreed carbon targets.
  • Monitor progress towards the aspirational five-yearly carbon emissions targets for the city as a whole to achieve net zero by 2040.
  • Identify priority areas for action (particularly for the Sprint groups) and, if appropriate, work collaboratively to further develop roadmaps, action plans and other relevant documentation.
  • Engage with Sprint groups to deliver collaborative carbon emission reduction projects, focusing on areas that will have the most impact on city emissions.
The ZCOP Steering Group also:
  • Identifies what Sprint groups are required
  • Chairs the Sprint groups
  • Reports on outcomes and feedback to the wider Partnership
  • Reports annually on the city’s agreed carbon targets and agree whether a review of the targets is needed (with a view to increasing ambition if there is a change to the policy landscape or to technical and financial feasibility)
  • Ensures there is resource in place to deliver the administrative needs to the partnership

Sprint Groups

Sprint groups are smaller subgroups of the Zero Carbon Oxford Partnership intended to act as ‘task-and-finish-groups’ – established on an ad-hoc basis to achieve a specific objective within a defined time limit.

Partners in ZCOP can be invited to join the Steering Group subject to the agreement of its members; membership is voluntary and can be decided on by each member annually. The Chair of the Steering Group is appointed by the members on an annual basis.
Image of pedestrians and cyclists in Oxford, by Evgeny Klimenchenko

They allow relevant individuals and organisations with a particular interest, knowledge or influence in a subject to come together to explore, action and deliver solutions to specific issues. On completion of the objective(s) the Sprint reports back or makes recommendations to the Steering Group for approval and is subsequently dissolved.

Participation in Sprints is voluntary and open to all Partners in ZCOP. Each Sprint group has a Champion, responsible for ensuring the objectives of the group are in accordance with the Zero Carbon Oxford Roadmap and Action Plan and a Lead who reports the progress of the Sprint at Steering Group meetings and carries out assigned actions.

Past and current Sprint Groups include:
  • Domestic retrofit 
  • Active Travel 
  • Authority Based Insetting 
  • Energy Use 
  • EV Infrastructure Delivery 
  • Adaptation 
  • Green skills 
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