Oxford Is on the Way to Becoming the World's First Zero Emissions Zone by 2030

This month Oxford City released its Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) Feasibility Study, where it outlines the details of a plan for achieving the ambitious goal by 2030. The city is a vital location, as its the site of the prestigious Oxford University, the oldest English-speaking university in the world. The specific aim of the proposal is to reduce nitrogen dioxide levels by 74% of a select set of streets in the city center before the 2035 target date.

"Toxic and illegal air pollution in the city centre is damaging the health of Oxford's residents," says John Tanner, one of the Oxford City Council board members. "A step change is urgently needed; the Zero Emission Zone is that step change."

The Oxford City Council expressed its overwhelming support for the measure, which it sees as a necessary step in completely transforming the air quality in the city and creating a completely new carbon footprint. In its press release, however, the main obstacle identified, albeit a relatively small one, concerns what steps need to be taken for the current bus fleet, where “[t]here is still some way to go before zero-emission technology for buses is fully developed."

So, what are the targets the city has set in the proposal?

• Starting from 2020, non-zero emission cars, taxis, buses, and light commercial vehicles will be excluded from specific streets outlined in the proposal

• From 2025 and 2030, respectively, the scope of the streets in the ZEZ will be broadened.

• Finally, starting from 2035, any noncompliant vehicles would be completely excluded from operating in these areas.

On George Street, for example, reported NO2 levels were 61µg/m3 in 2015, and are on course to drop to 38µg/m3 in 2020 and 16µg/m3 in 2035.

Presentation by Jo Colwell, Environmental Sustainability Manager, Oxford City Council. Source: LinkedIn

The UK published a set of reports this year aimed at cutting NO2. Citing overall air quality improvement, it reports that in the country “Since 1970 sulphur dioxide emissions have decreased by 95%, particulate matter by 6 73%, and nitrogen oxides by 69%.

Total UK emissions of nitrogen oxides fell by a further 19% between 2010 and 2015.” Still, there has been strong disagreement from local government with the picture it paints of necessary air quality measures in the country.