Since 2005 Oxford City council has had a Climate Change Action Plan and are committed to transforming Oxford into a sustainable city. The council has signed up to the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change and council buildings are now on a green electricity tariff. The council have also been investigating community-scale wind energy developments on council owned land.
Oxford City council already have smart energy and water metering technologies in place at four council buildings to reduce consumption of gas, electricity and water we use and are planning to add more smart meters to large consuming sites.
The council has also taken part in the Carbon Trust's Local Authority Carbon Management Programme (CMP), which resulted in establishing a Carbon Management Programme for Oxford City Council - Getting Our House in Order.
In terms of the local environment, Oxford has been voted Britain’s cleanest city by readers of Conde Nast’s Traveller magazine and the council is examining the feasibility of a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) to improve air quality in central Oxford. It was one of the first cities in the UK to put in cycle lanes and now 17% of people commute by bike, compared to an average of only 3% across the nation.
The bus lanes (and bus priority lights) mean that buses get significant priority over cars - enabling quick, frequent and punctual bus journeys. This means less buses and drivers and a healthy level of competing bus companies which are investing in modern low-floor clean-burn buses.
What you can do about climate change.
Oxford City Council published award winning guides to sustainable living and sustainable travel in partnership with local businesses and community groups. Copies of Oxford is My World - Your Guide to Saving the Planet are available to download electronically or in printed format from the Oxford is My World website.
