Enabling nature-based carbon offsetting in Oxfordshire

**背景**所有地方当局项目合作伙伴都有雄心勃勃的碳减排目标，正在努力到2030年实现净零碳，并鼓励更广泛的地区实现碳中和。在2021年《S通向牛津郡零碳项目的路径》的基础上，牛津郡净零碳路线图和行动计划即将敲定，其中确定了14个关键领域，需要合作实现市政委员会的净零目标。包括探索支持净零排放的新融资机制和调查加强碳封存的机会。**挑战**牛津郡地方政府和企业需要抵消剩余碳排放，以实现净零排放，但现有的碳抵消计划不提供投资于该县境内实施的计划的机会。建立牛津郡碳抵消计划需要一种创新的新机制；目前的碳抵消机制和市场仅限于：*树木/林地种植：受牛津郡土地供应的限制。*泥炭地恢复：牛津郡的最小范围。**创新的机会**该项目将开发一种新的创新方法来抵消碳排放，为牛津郡的企业和地方当局提供投资于该县基于自然的碳封存计划的机会，增加对基于自然的解决方案的投资，同时帮助实现共享的净零抱负。我们将在这一领域现有工作的基础上，提供多功能的基于自然的抵消计划，提供以下好处：*提供新的自然资本，旨在提供特定的生态系统服务，如防洪。*为本地化的基于自然的碳抵消创造投资机会，为当地经济、就业和技能带来好处。*在人们生活和工作的地方附近提供高质量的绿色基础设施计划，提供健康和福祉福利，并与自然英格兰的绿色基础设施战略保持一致。*为即将到来的牛津郡地方自然恢复战略产生的项目提供资金。**可交付成果**与当地利益攸关方合作，该项目将：1.研究和商定一种测量不同基于自然的干预措施的碳封存的方法和方法。定义潜在的机制，例如允许对牛津市基于自然的碳抵消项目进行投资的基于区域的嵌入。开发至少一个可投资的自然碳抵消试点项目。这个创新项目有可能从根本上改变碳抵消的方法，方法是定义一种可扩展的、财务上可持续的方法，不仅限于植树和泥炭地恢复，而且通过一系列不同的当地生境创造计划。这对合作伙伴关系的地方当局、纳税人和整个英国来说都是物有所值的。

**Background**All the local authority project partners have ambitious carbon reduction targets, are working towards net zero carbon by 2030, and are encouraging the wider districts to become carbon neutral.Building on 2021's Pathways to a Zero Carbon Oxfordshire project, an Oxfordshire Net Zero Route Map and Action Plan is being finalised, which identifies 14 key areas for collaborative working to meet the councils' net zero targets, including exploring new funding mechanisms supporting net zero delivery and investigating opportunities to enhance carbon sequestration.**The challenge**Oxfordshire local authorities and businesses need to offset residual carbon emissions to reach net zero but existing carbon offsetting schemes do not offer opportunities to invest in schemes delivered within the county. Establishing an Oxfordshire scheme requires an innovative new mechanism; current carbon offsetting mechanisms and markets are limited to:* tree/woodland planting: limited by Oxfordshire's land availability.* peatland restoration: minimal scope in Oxfordshire.**The opportunity to innovate**This project will develop a new and innovative approach to carbon offsetting, providing Oxfordshire's businesses and local authorities' opportunities to invest in nature-based carbon sequestration schemes within the county, increasing investment in nature-based solutions whilst helping reach shared net zero ambitions. We will build on existing work in this area, to deliver multi-functional nature-based offsetting schemes, providing benefits such as:* delivery of new natural capital, designed to deliver specific ecosystem services such as flood prevention.* creating investment opportunities for localised nature-based carbon offsets, bringing benefits to the local economy, employment, and skills.* provision of high-quality green infrastructure schemes close to where people live and work, providing health and well-being benefits, and aligning with Natural England's Green Infrastructure Strategy.* providing funding for projects arising from the forthcoming Oxfordshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy.**Deliverables**Working with local stakeholders, the project will:1. Research and agree an approach and methodology for measuring carbon sequestered by different nature-based interventions.2. Define potential mechanisms, such as Area-Based Insetting that would allow investment in nature-based carbon offset projects in Oxfordshire.3. Develop at least one investment ready nature-based carbon offset pilot project.This innovative project has potential to fundamentally change approaches to carbon offsetting by defining a scalable and financially sustainable approach, not limited to tree planting and peatland restoration, but through a diverse range of local habitat creation schemes. This represents significant value for money for the partnership's local authorities, the taxpayer, and the wider UK.