IDEAS and advice on how to make Oxfordshire cleaner and greener were shared during a zero carbon bus tour of the county.
The electric bus came to Bicester and Oxford with the aim of showcasing local innovation. The activities were designed to inspire local firms and their employees to become part of a greater national effort to protect the environment. It also highlighted the good work many companies are already doing to address their carbon output.
Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council and Cherwell District Council hosted the events at the Rose Hill community centre in Oxford and Bicester’s Eco-Business Centre.
Visitors were invited in person or virtually through an online livestream.
Pete Sudbury, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for Climate Change Delivery and Environment, said: “Effective action to address the climate emergency is at the heart of our work.
“Not only have we set ourselves ambitious carbon emission targets to lead by example, speeding up the process of cutting emissions wherever we can, but, much more importantly, we have put climate and environment impacts at the core of our strategic thinking, especially around transport and growth.
“We are also accelerating our work mapping immediate climate risks from extreme weather and ensure that our disaster planning is up to the task of keeping our citizens safe.”
At the events, Oxfordshire’s businesses and other organisations took part in carbon reduction workshops and got practical net zero advice.
Bicester’s Elmsbrook Eco Town and the Park and Charge electric vehicle programme were just two of the local topics and organisations that were showcased.
The workshops were provided by Planet Mark – a leading sustainability and net zero certification group – and formed part of the UN-backed Race to Zero and Together for Our Planet campaigns.
Tom Hayes, deputy leader and cabinet member for green transport and Zero Carbon Oxford at Oxford City Council, and Chair of the Zero Carbon Oxford Partnership, said: “The climate crisis didn’t go away during the pandemic. The science is clear: our warming planet is requiring us to respond right here, right now. Every citizen and business has a chance to understand what they can do to heal the planet, help each other, and protect lives.
“Everyone can find out how taking action isn’t as big, scary, and expensive as it might seem – indeed, it can bring about a better, cheaper, and happier way of life.”
