Bowkett, David – Liberal Democrat

Strongly agree

This a pressing global challenge and must be a priority for all levels of government.

Thomas, Stephen – Green

Strongly agree

Since the declaration of the Climate Emergency in 2019 there has been a lot of talk but no action. We have a legal and ethical responsibility to see every decision around growth, housing, investment, recycling and every other policy decision within this framework.

Turner, Ed – Labour

Strongly agree

There is no point declaring a climate emergency if it is not integrated properly in decision-making. We have agreed future cabinet reports in Oxford will cover this.

Young, Nuala – Green

Strongly agree

We have nearly reached the point of no return. It is truly a Climate Emergency and the central government is not taking any real action . All the more reason to act effectively at a local level. There is a lot we can do locally while continuing to lobby the national government.

Bowkett, David – Liberal Democrat

Strongly agree

We must transition to a carbon neutral society and the burden of any change must not fall on the poorest in society.

Thomas, Stephen – Green

Strongly agree

Green Councillors in Oxford successfully proposed a motion to the City Council in support of the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill (co-sponsored by Green MP Caroline Lucas). This motion urged MPs to support the Bill although but it has not been supported by my Labour MP.

Turner, Ed – Labour

Agree

I support the principles in the Bill. My understanding is that it may not be discussed in Parliament so the focus should perhaps better be on amendments to legislation which is tabled that stand more chance of becoming law.

Young, Nuala – Green

Strongly agree

I have been part of XR groups in lobbying the government and our MP to support this Bill and in lobbying our Council to declare support for it.

Bowkett, David – Liberal Democrat

Strongly agree

Perhaps we need a more ambitious target than a 50% reduction? Reducing car traffic will have benefits for carbon emissions, air quality, and road safety. It will allow buses to run smoothly and serve more routes. Electric cars are not the answer, but we shouldn’t rule out a role for smart road pricing technology or other advanced transport technologies.

Thomas, Stephen – Green

Strongly agree

I am an active member of Cyclox and OLS and believe transport policy is climate policy. We need health living streets to let our city thrive and the 50% target is aligned with Green Party policy and the research commissioned for the Oxford Citizens Assembly

Turner, Ed – Labour

Strongly agree

This sounds like the right level of ambition to me (though I have not seen particular modelling of what is feasible). Clearly we need much more sustainable transport. The question does not discuss electric vehicles, these are still “motorised” and should be part of the mix. We need to be mindful of those who are mobility impaired.

Young, Nuala – Green

Strongly agree

As.a City Councillor I noticed and communicated to the press and other councillors that the air in Oxford breached the European pollution level limits. Our roads need to be safer for cyclists. I have been knocked off my bike by a car door and often terrified by cars passing too close. It would be wonderful to be able to breathe fresh air and walk and cycle at ease in our city.

Bowkett, David – Liberal Democrat

Strongly agree

Well-planned housing developments are key to phasing out private car use. I sadly note that the Labour city council has maintained a ratio of 1 parking space per home for new developments in Rose Hill and plans to do the same for the Meadow Lane development in Iffley. This is a missed opportunity to promote car-free living.

Thomas, Stephen – Green

Strongly agree

I am deeply saddened we are still building car centric developments in the inner city and this is one of the main reasons I chose to stand. The Greens submitted amendments in line with the 15 minute neighbourhood to the Local Plan enquiry

Turner, Ed – Labour

Strongly agree

This is a different way of presenting the requirements of our excellent new Local Plan.

Young, Nuala – Green

Strongly agree

It is good for our sense of well being and mental health to live in a community where we don’t have the stress of travelling long distances for our daily needs.

Bowkett, David – Liberal Democrat

Strongly agree

We should embrace new technologies (heat pumps) for heating homes and ensure that homes are designed to stay cool in hot weather, which is likely to be more frequent and severe due to climate change.

Thomas, Stephen – Green

Strongly agree

The Greens have been campaigning for this. The city council uses a non standard definition of zero carbon and the greens are campaigning to change this. We need to act in line with the climate emergency whenever we build new homes.

Turner, Ed – Labour

Agree

The government should require this through national legislation, and backtracking on this in 2015 was a dreadful move. In the meantime new homes should comply with the demanding requirements in Oxford’s new Local Plan.

Young, Nuala – Green

Strongly agree

This is now possible and necessary if we are to reduce our emissions locally and nationally .

Bowkett, David – Liberal Democrat

Strongly agree

The council should look to enable and incentivise home owners and private landlords to make necessary changes, whilst driving improvements in its own housing stock. Changes should be incentivised and enabled, but I would aim to avoid forcing compulsory changes.

Thomas, Stephen – Green

Strongly agree

59% of homes in Oxford are rated EPC ‘D’ or below with <5% of households having taken advantage of energy company obligation improvement measures. This needs to change. We need Energiesprong retrofits introduced for Council-own properties, and tougher energy criteria introduced for landlords

Turner, Ed – Labour

Agree

I think this is the right ambition, but realistically we will need central government support (financial and regulatory) to achieve this (beyond Council housing, where this is our current policy goal).

Young, Nuala – Green

Because this really is a Climate Emergency we have to act on all fronts and include our existing housing stock.

Bowkett, David – Liberal Democrat

Strongly agree

I would like to add the caveat that the renewable energy sources should be sustainable themselves. We don’t want a mountain of impossible to recycle solar panels in 15 years; time.

Thomas, Stephen – Green

Strongly agree

The Greens want cheap Council borrowing to be used to invest in e.g. solar farms delivering against climate and financial goals. When this was proposed by the Greens, the City Council instead decided to speculate £20m on commercial properties.

Turner, Ed – Labour

Strongly agree

We should certainly support these and there are some great examples in Rose Hill and Iffley already (hat tip to our brilliant Rose Hill and Iffley Low Carbon group for working so hard to get this to happen). These aren’t just about council “policies” but everyone pulling together – and central government must play its part too.

Young, Nuala – Green

Strongly agree

Renewable Energy is the only way forward to save our planet. There have been days when our energy needs already were adequately supplied by renewables so their potential is real. Since the national government is not committing to really supporting renewables we need to act locally to support the provision of renewable energy locally.

Bowkett, David – Liberal Democrat

Strongly agree

Both innovation and adoption of new technologies should be supported. The covid-19 vaccine has shown how innovations from our city can have a great impact on major global challenges.

Thomas, Stephen – Green

Strongly agree

There is no current plan to do despite the 2040 net zero target. There is no way this can be achieved without a dramatic shift in energy policy which should be happening right now.

Turner, Ed – Labour

Strongly agree

This is certainly right in terms of the planning system, and any grant programmes we can steer. Our procurement strategy will also be helpful in achieving this aim. Again, this is also something where we need a clear national strategy and ambition. In the year of COP-26, the UK must really take a lead.

Young, Nuala – Green

Strongly agree

We have to act on all fronts to significantly cut down on our carbon footprint .

Bowkett, David – Liberal Democrat

Strongly agree

Thomas, Stephen – Green

Strongly agree

I’ve been actively working on this in my area. The local plan has no mention of wildlife corridors and is shocking light on biodiversity detail. I am actively working with local artists to produce a visual plan to connect the southern river meadows as part of a nature recovery network

Turner, Ed – Labour

Agree

We have great green spaces in our part of Oxford. We need to support biodiversity in existing green spaces, and ensure biodiversity gain where there is development. I strongly support this objective but would not wish to be understood as being against all development. Where development happens, it should incorporate great green spaces and enhance biodiversity.

Young, Nuala – Green

Strongly agree

I have campaigned over the last few years against the erosion of our Green Belt because of the recently adopted Oxford Local Plan. In particular I have been trying to protect a field that is part of Oxford’s biodiversity corridor and found that most Nature Organisations have had their budgets cut and have been disempowered.It would be great to have a Nature Recovery network.

Bowkett, David – Liberal Democrat

Strongly agree

Thomas, Stephen – Green

Strongly agree

I’m planting trees in my area wherever I can. I have personally planted over 12 in the last six months and I am approaching business and residents that have green space that is suitable for tree planting. This needs to happen on a much bigger scale though.

Turner, Ed – Labour

Strongly agree

Oxford should definitely play its part. Again hat-tip to RHILC for over 300 trees locally! Happy to have played my own very small part in this brilliant project.

Young, Nuala – Green

Strongly agree

My son and I have planted 100 trees over the past decade and our oak tree is already 20 ft. Trees are essential in the overall urgent move to reduce carbon levels. It would be good to plant micro woods within the city and suburbs and I would like to see a large wood in the fields between South and North Hinksey.

Bowkett, David – Liberal Democrat

Agree

Farming and food production should be designed to minimise carbon footprint and impacts on nature. This doesn’t necessarily mean it has to be local. Global innovation and trade is important to meeting climate challenges.

Thomas, Stephen – Green

Strongly agree

I am a huge fan of agro forestry schemes which we desperately need to adopt at a national level.Greens recently won Council support for a new Oxford Food Strategy bringing together the health, social and environmental dimensions of our food supply chains and to reduce inequalities.

Turner, Ed – Labour

Strongly agree

An excellent aim, and something we can support as well through making space available for farmers’ markets, supporting sustainable local traders in the Covered Market, and working with local schools.

Young, Nuala – Green

Strongly agree

It is sad and worrying to witness how sterile the Countryside is becoming with loss of birds and pollinators because of the use of pesticides in industrial agriculture.

Bowkett, David – Liberal Democrat

I believe that encouraging people to make sustainable choices is key to tackling climate change. In Oxford, this should mean ensuring people’s homes are heated efficiently and encouraging use of active and public transport.

Thomas, Stephen – Green

Whether I win or lose the election this will be my major focus. I have changed my career so I am now working with community based solar businesses. I will carry on campaigning for active travel for our city. My personal tree planting and rewilding projects will continue and I am determined to fight for wildlife corridors we desperately need throughout the city. I see zero carbon and renewable energy as a way of ending fuel poverty and I want to see an expansion of the excellent solar schemes in Rose Hill and Iffley. I am working with low carbon Rose Hill and Iffley to see what other areas I can learn more about. In short, I will do everything I can to the best of my abilities, knowledge and talents.

Turner, Ed – Labour

I will continue to work for sustainable transport locally, with better provision for cyclists, pedestrians and other public transport users (including better signage, dedicated cycle lanes and lighting). Encouraging youngsters to cycle will be particularly important. I will continue to push for a cleaner Thames. I will encourage new housing developments to be as sustainable as possible. I am straightforward in my approach to politics, and will not duck difficult issues where these are needed to address the climate emergency.

Young, Nuala – Green

I think you have already set a good agenda for me in your questionnaire. I want to see a halt to indiscriminate house building. Every new house produces 100 tonnes of carbon in being built. Instead I would like to see the re-generation in as carbon free way as possible of old office and shop buildings into accommodation. Zero Carbon Affordable and Social Housing could be built at the West End near the City Centre and Nature Parks with easy access to both City facilities and the Countryside. A forest and lake/marina between South and North Hinksey could offset carbon and provide wonderful leisure opportunities so that people don’t feel they have to travel elsewhere for enjoyment. For the same reason we need to act to insure the river is unpolluted and people can swim maybe in rejuvenated former bathing spots like Long bridges, Wolvercote and Tumbling Bay.