1. The climate emergency should be an explicit and integral consideration in all local authority decision making.
Cook, Colin – Labour
Strongly agree
For further information please see: https://www.oxford.gov.uk/news/article/1468/oxford_city_council_welcomes_latest_committee_on_climate_change_report
Muddiman, Lois – Green
Strongly agree
It’s a Climate EMERGENCY. Oxford City Council needs to act NOW, across all areas to do everything in their power to reduce carbon emissions in Oxford. All council decisions should be made with this as a top priority.
Pressel, Susanna – Labour
Strongly agree
Our planet is in crisis!
Thompson, Peter – Green
Strongly agree
We are facing a climate emergency and every level of government needs to be involved in the fight against it
2. I support the Climate and Ecological Emergency (CEE) Bill
Cook, Colin – Labour
Strongly agree
For further information on what the City Council is calling on the government to do please refer to: https://www.oxford.gov.uk/news/article/1468/oxford_city_council_welcomes_latest_committee_on_climate_change_report
Muddiman, Lois – Green
Strongly agree
The CEE Bill is a key legislative measure for taking meaningful action on climate change.
Pressel, Susanna – Labour
Strongly agree
It’s great!
Thompson, Peter – Green
Strongly agree
See above
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.
Cook, Colin – Labour
Strongly agree
We support LTNs and we???re a joint delivery partner on Connecting Oxford which aims to encourage a modal shift away from private car use to sustainable public transport, cycling, and walking.
Muddiman, Lois – Green
Strongly agree
Reducing car usage is key to solving Oxford???s air pollution crisis and limiting our contributions to climate change. We need improved infrastructure for cycling and walking so that cyclists and pedestrians feel safe, improved rail links and affordable, accessible buses.
Pressel, Susanna – Labour
Strongly agree
If public transport can be improved we should aim to get private car use even lower than 50%.
Thompson, Peter – Green
Strongly agree
Travel within Oxford is badly hampered by the number of cars on the road. Everything should be done to reduce this number and to allow more people to take public transport or cycle safely
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.
Cook, Colin – Labour
Strongly agree
This is what we are currently doing with our planning policies
Muddiman, Lois – Green
Strongly agree
All future planning decisions should be made with this aim in mind.
Pressel, Susanna – Labour
Strongly agree
It’s a no-brainer.
Thompson, Peter – Green
Strongly agree
See above
5. All new homes built in Oxfordshire should be built to zero carbon standards.
Cook, Colin – Labour
Strongly agree
We will continue to press the government to raise standards to allow us to implement this policy.
Muddiman, Lois – Green
Strongly agree
Of course, why are we not doing this already! It should be mandatory and coincide with an mass retro-fitting programme for the existing housing stock.
Pressel, Susanna – Labour
Strongly agree
The government MUST change the rules on this. The City Council must do more too.
Thompson, Peter – Green
Strongly agree
Housing and heating are two of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions. Building houses to a high ecological specification would considerably reduce consumption of fossil fuel resources
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.
Cook, Colin – Labour
Strongly agree
Muddiman, Lois – Green
Strongly agree
The council should be investing significantly in community and co-operatively owned renewable energy, redirecting money earmarked for risky commercial property investments into renewable energy.
Pressel, Susanna – Labour
Strongly agree
See above.
Thompson, Peter – Green
Strongly agree
It is a scandal that this has not long been policy.
7. Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council should introduce policies that support the installation of renewable energy sources.
Cook, Colin – Labour
Strongly agree
We do already, and will continue to push central government for the powers to allow us to do more.
Muddiman, Lois – Green
Strongly agree
The council should be investing in community and co-operatively owned renewable energy, redirecting money earmarked for risky commercial property investments into renewable energy. Almost ??6m was spent on extending Seacourt P&R on the floodplain. This should have been invested in solar panels to go above existing parking spaces instead.
Pressel, Susanna – Labour
Strongly agree
They have moved a bit (especially the City), but need to do much more.
Thompson, Peter – Green
Strongly agree
See above
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.
Cook, Colin – Labour
Strongly agree
We do
Muddiman, Lois – Green
Strongly agree
Yes, We already have a great network of innovative low carbon community groups, The Low Carbon Hub, and the University ECI, to help support this. Why aren’t we doing more in a place like Oxford.
Pressel, Susanna – Labour
Strongly agree
We need even more ambitious target dates.
Thompson, Peter – Green
Strongly agree
Oxford has a reputation as one of the centres of international scientific excellence. It is high time that this was extended into the field of ecological production
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.
Cook, Colin – Labour
Strongly agree
Muddiman, Lois – Green
Strongly agree
The Covid Crisis has made it even clearer just how vital public green spaces are, both for people and for the wider environment. Existing green spaces must be enhanced and preserved. I’m proud to have founded Hogacre Common Eco Park. The Greens support the introduction of a new national park in the North East of Oxford.
Pressel, Susanna – Labour
Strongly agree
This is second only to the climate crisis in urgency.
Thompson, Peter – Green
Strongly agree
Biodiversity in the UK has crashed over the last century and it is up to us to rebuild it and to ReWild our environment where possible.
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.
Cook, Colin – Labour
Strongly agree
Muddiman, Lois – Green
Strongly agree
I’ve helped to plant thousands of trees at Hogacre, and in local parks in West Oxford.
Pressel, Susanna – Labour
Strongly agree
This is essential — and popular. The public can help.
Thompson, Peter – Green
Strongly agree
Tree coverage is an essential part of any ecological program. Trees do not only reduce pollution but are the quickest and easiest way to store carbon
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).
Cook, Colin – Labour
Strongly agree
Muddiman, Lois – Green
Strongly agree
Reducing emissions and waste in the food supply chain is crucial. I am strongly in support of the Green proposed new Oxford Food Strategy to deliver healthy, sustainable and nutritious food for all, and would work to support initiatives to maximise local food production and consumption. Growing our food locally is Good for the planet, good for our health and good for our mental well-being.
Pressel, Susanna – Labour
Strongly agree
The government needs to change its policies, but the councils can do more.
Thompson, Peter – Green
Strongly agree
For too long food production has been in the hands of agribusiness. An essential part of improving our climate is to improve the way we grow food.
12. Finally, in 100 words or less, please describe what you plan to contribute to ensuring a green and just recovery in Oxford/ Oxfordshire.
Cook, Colin – Labour
I will be voting Labour on the 6th May!
Muddiman, Lois – Green
Oxford needs a Green New Deal based on the principles of climate, ecological and social justice that delivers a decarbonised, more localised economy, in order to build back fairer and greener after the Covid crisis and the legacy of austerity. If elected I would do everything possible to make this a reality I would also continue to support the many community groups in Oxford who work at grass roots level to effect change.
Pressel, Susanna – Labour
I pledge to continue to work with others to make these issues a top priority.
Thompson, Peter – Green
It is essential that the city and the county develop an integrated Green program in which all of the policy areas discussed here are linked up and made into a coherent whole. Piecemeal responses to the crisis we are in will not be adequate. Transport, housing, energy, agriculture et cetera all need to be brought together to improve our environment
