Eight new organisations join Oxfordshire climate partnership

Eight organisations spanning land management, construction and low-carbon logistics have joined the Zero Carbon Oxfordshire Partnership (ZCOP), adding momentum to countywide efforts to cut emissions and prepare for a warming climate.

A bigger coalition for faster climate action

ZCOP was established to speed up climate action in Oxfordshire by uniting public bodies, businesses, academia and community groups behind shared goals. The latest sign-ups reflect the breadth of expertise now feeding into that mission, from nature recovery and regenerative farming to low-carbon building and greener delivery services.

The new members

• Earth Trust
• FarmED
• North East Cotswold Farmers Cluster
• CPRE Oxfordshire
• Greencore Homes
• Beard Construction
• Darcica Logistics
• Velocity Cycle Couriers

Why these sectors matter

Oxfordshire’s path to net zero runs through its fields, homes, workplaces and streets. Land use and farming influence both emissions and the county’s ability to lock up carbon in soils and woodlands while restoring wildlife habitats. Construction and housing determine long-term energy demand and the embodied carbon of materials. Logistics and transport affect air quality, congestion and a significant share of local emissions. By adding specialists from each of these areas, ZCOP strengthens its capacity to design practical, joined-up solutions.

How the partnership collaborates

ZCOP brings members together to share insights, build relationships and deliver joint work. Activity includes themed working groups, knowledge-sharing sessions, public events and collaborative projects. The model is designed to reduce duplication, help organisations learn from real-world trials and scale up what works across the county.

Current priorities

• Sustainable transport: shifting trips to walking, cycling and public transport; supporting last‑mile deliveries by cargo bike; and accelerating the transition to low- and zero-emission fleets.
• Energy: improving energy management, boosting local renewable generation and flexibility, and integrating storage where possible.
• Low-carbon buildings: advancing deep retrofit, heat decarbonisation and high-performance newbuilds that minimise embodied carbon.
• Climate adaptation: preparing for hotter, drier summers and wetter winters through nature-based solutions, flood resilience and heat-aware urban design.
• Green skills and jobs: expanding training pathways for trades, planners, land managers and logistics professionals to meet rising demand for net‑zero expertise.

Voices from the partnership

The partnership’s chair, Philip Sharman, welcomed the eight organisations, noting that their practical experience across farming, nature and land use, construction and sustainable logistics will be central to Oxfordshire’s transition. He highlighted ZCOP’s role as a convening space where members can exchange knowledge, form productive links and tackle shared challenges more effectively together than alone.

From the local government side, Oxford City Council’s deputy leader for planning and zero carbon, Councillor Anna Railton, underlined that meaningful climate action must reach every part of Oxfordshire’s economy and communities. She said the expansion of expertise within ZCOP—particularly in farming, nature, construction and transport—will help align countywide efforts and deliver results faster.

What this could unlock

With a broader mix of members, ZCOP is better placed to connect decisions about land, buildings, energy and mobility. That can open the door to integrated projects—such as pairing retrofit programmes with workforce training, aligning farm carbon audits with biodiversity gains, or coordinating low‑carbon delivery networks with public realm improvements. It also strengthens the evidence base for local policy, finance and procurement choices that cut emissions while improving health, nature and affordability.

Building resilience as well as cutting emissions

Alongside decarbonisation, the partnership is giving greater weight to preparing for climate impacts already locked in. Practical measures—shade and cooling in urban areas, wetland restoration that stores water and reduces flood risk, and climate-smart construction—are becoming core parts of Oxfordshire’s response. The mix of organisations now within ZCOP can help translate these ideas into scalable action across towns, villages and the wider countryside.

By broadening its membership and deepening collaboration, ZCOP signals a step change in how Oxfordshire approaches the climate crisis: locally led, cross-sector and focused on solutions that deliver benefits today while safeguarding the county for the decades ahead.