Enabling nature-based carbon offsetting in Oxfordshire

** 背景 ** 所有地方政府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年牛津郡零碳之路项目的基础上，牛津郡净零路线图和行动计划正在定稿，其中确定了14个关键领域的合作，以实现理事会的净零目标，包括探索支持净零交付的新的供资机制，并调查加强碳固存的机会。挑战 ** 牛津郡地方当局和企业需要抵消剩余碳排放量以达到净零，但现有的碳抵消计划并没有提供投资于郡内交付的计划的机会。建立牛津郡计划需要一个创新的新机制;目前的碳抵消机制和市场仅限于：* 树木/林地种植：受牛津郡土地可用性的限制。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碳抵消方法，为牛津郡的企业和地方当局提供投资于郡内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目标。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提供高质量的绿色基础设施计划，提供健康和福利，并与自然英格兰的绿色基础设施战略保持一致。为即将实施的牛津郡地方自然恢复战略项目提供资金。** ** 与当地利益攸关方合作，该项目将：1.研究并商定一种办法和方法，用于衡量不同的基于自然的干预措施所固碳的情况。定义潜在的机制，如基于区域的嵌入，将允许投资于自然为基础的碳抵消项目在牛津郡。制定至少一个投资就绪的基于自然的碳抵消试点项目。这个创新项目有可能通过定义一个可扩展的和财务上可持续的方法，从根本上改变碳抵消的方法，不仅限于植树和泥炭地恢复，而是通过各种各样的当地栖息地创造计划。这对伙伴关系的地方当局、纳税人和更广泛的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.