1. The climate emergency should be an explicit and integral consideration in all local authority decision making.
Edwards, Sarah – Green
Strongly agree
It is essential to our very survival that we act urgently in response to the climate emergency. Since Green Councillors successfully proposed a motion on this in 2019 there has been very little progress.
Pressel, Susanna – Labour
Strongly agree
Our planet is in crisis!
2. I support the Climate and Ecological Emergency (CEE) Bill
Edwards, Sarah – Green
Strongly agree
This is an incredibly important Bill and I’m campaigning to get more support for it. The Green Councillors successfully proposed a motion to the City Council in support of this Bill, which is co-sponsored by Green MP Caroline Lucas.
Pressel, Susanna – Labour
Strongly agree
It’s great!
3. Motorised traffic in and through Oxford should be reduced 50% below present levels by 2030, to limit air pollution and increase space for cyclists and pedestrians.
Edwards, Sarah – Green
Strongly agree
In addition to reducing air pollution and making space for people cycling and walking, we also need to bear down hard on the amount of energy consumed transporting people and goods. It will be a major challenge meeting our energy needs in future, using only clean renewable energy.
Pressel, Susanna – Labour
Strongly agree
If public transport can be improved we should aim to get private car use even lower than 50%.
4. Development decisions (planning and housing) should design out car-dependency and facilitate the creation of 15 minute neighbourhoods, where residents can access all daily goods and services within a 15 minute walk.
Edwards, Sarah – Green
Strongly agree
Cutting car dependency and creating a more localised economy with more local services will bring many benefits. 15 minute neighbourhoods are included in our Oxford City Council manifesto, with policies to deliver the relevant transport and planning changes.
Pressel, Susanna – Labour
Strongly agree
It’s a no-brainer.
5. All new homes built in Oxfordshire should be built to zero carbon standards.
Edwards, Sarah – Green
Strongly agree
Greens pushed for this to be in the Oxford City Local Plan but it is not in there. Green Councillors have also pressed for a clearer definition to be used locally for ‘zero carbon’ buildings. The City Council typically uses a definition which excludes some key emissions.
Pressel, Susanna – Labour
Strongly agree
The government MUST change the rules on this. The City Council must do more too.
6. Local authorities should introduce policies and measures to enable all homes in Oxford and Oxfordshire to achieve an EPC rating of C or higher by 2035.
Edwards, Sarah – Green
Strongly agree
The average EPC rating for homes is shockingly low and Greens have been pressing for urgent action to address this. We need massive expansion of services such as the Cosy Homes project, major investment in training, high level retrofits of the Council-owned properties and tougher energy criteria for landlords.
Pressel, Susanna – Labour
Strongly agree
See above.
7. Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council should introduce policies that support the installation of renewable energy sources.
Edwards, Sarah – Green
Strongly agree
Expanding the installation of local renewable energy will not only be important to tackle the climate emergency, but boost the local economy. Local electricity generation also results in less energy lost in transmission.
Pressel, Susanna – Labour
Strongly agree
They have moved a bit (especially the City), but need to do much more.
8. Local authorities should use every available mechanism (including the planning system, grants and others), and support and enable innovation, to phase out fossil fuel use across Oxford, including domestic, business and industrial use as well as use in their own buildings and operations.
Edwards, Sarah – Green
Strongly agree
This is vital, but while the City has adopted a 2040 net zero target, under pressure from the Greens, but there are no proper plans to achieve this. Without massive local investment eg in solar, hydro and battery storage, we cannot decarbonise rapidly enough.
Pressel, Susanna – Labour
Strongly agree
We need even more ambitious target dates.
9. The creation, protection and restoration of biodiversity and green spaces for all should be a priority for local authorities including the development of a Nature Recovery Network.
Edwards, Sarah – Green
Strongly agree
The ecological emergency is linked to but separate from the climate emergency. Action is urgently needed to reverse the decline in biodiversity. Yet sites rich in biodiversity are still under threat form urbanisation whilst brownfield sites remain under-developed. Access to nature and green spaces is crucial for everyone’s wellbeing and should be treated as essential.
Pressel, Susanna – Labour
Strongly agree
This is second only to the climate crisis in urgency.
10. As Oxfordshire County Council candidate, I support the doubling of tree cover in Oxfordshire by 2045; AND/OR: As Oxford City Council candidate, I support Oxford making a significant contribution to doubling tree cover in Oxfordshire by 2045.
Edwards, Sarah – Green
Strongly agree
Greens support the target to double tree cover in the county, and I have been involved in organising tree planting in my area. One of the many reasons we need to green the city is to make it cooler in summer (expected to be hotter due to climate change). In the county there is a great opportunity to expand forestry and produce more local materials. This must be done sustainably and be part of the strategy to enhance biodiversity. Of course trees are also vital for storing carbon.
Pressel, Susanna – Labour
Strongly agree
This is essential — and popular. The public can help.
11. Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council should introduce policies that support the development of a food system which promotes local production and use of agro-ecological methods (ie sustainable farming methods that work with nature).
Edwards, Sarah – Green
Strongly agree
Greens have always advocated food production methods that work with, not against nature, and warned of the very serious consequences of doing otherwise. This is becoming more urgent every year. Green Councillors recently won support for a new Oxford Food Strategy bringing together the health, social and environmental dimensions of our food supply chains and to reduce inequalities.
Pressel, Susanna – Labour
Strongly agree
The government needs to change its policies, but the councils can do more.
12. Finally, in 100 words or less, please describe what you plan to contribute to ensuring a green and just recovery in Oxford/ Oxfordshire.
Edwards, Sarah – Green
The Green Party’s ‘Green New Deal’ addresses the climate emergency by delivering a decarbonised, more localised circular economy, while addressing the housing crisis and inequality, and investing in training and jobs. We are calling for the City’s Local Plan to be rewritten to reflect the climate emergency. Similarly the County’s plans need revision. The City Council recently decided to invest in risky commercial property, while we would instead invest in renewable energy projects. We must reduce pollution by creating better provision for active travel, sustainable affordable public transport and electrification of transport. Green spaces and biodiversity must be protected and enhanced, and access for residents improved.
Pressel, Susanna – Labour
I pledge to continue to work with others to make these issues a top priority.
