Engagement Team
Our team operates at the intersection of research and stakeholder engagement, working collaboratively and positively with business, government and civil society to address the complex challenges of achieving net zero emissions and promoting sustainable development.
Guided by our translational research initiative, we provide an integrated, dispassionate perspective on the scientific, ecological, economic, and social challenges related to achieving net zero emissions. This approach is achieved through engagement with business leaders, civil society representatives, and policymakers at local, regional, national and international levels. By actively involving these stakeholders, we ensure that Oxford Net Zero’s research and practice is informed by real-world needs and considerations, facilitating the development of policy and business solutions.
We work with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure that the Oxford Net Zero research insights reach practitioners and that our research is informed by stakeholders.
Policy
Our team works to track net zero policy instruments at the national level, and works with international coalitions to close gaps in the global net zero accountability and integrity landscape.
Stocktake of policies and regulations
We took stock of key net zero policy and regulatory instruments in the G20 to allow us to support coalition efforts and accelerate the expansion of critical action for the implementation of NDCs.
Net Zero Accountability
Our team lead, Kaya Axelsson, has been appointed Co-Chair of the International Climate Politics Working Group on Net Zero Accountability and chairs coordination meetings with over forty NGO advocacy organisations developing advocacy positions and efforts to advance net zero policy and close gaps in the international net zero accountability ecosystem.
Standards
Our team has played a leading role and many supporting roles supporting the development of the latest net zero and net zero relevant standards. Our aim is to support standards in aligning with one another, reduce fragmentation, and maintain a strong reference to the science of net zero. Our research also identifies areas of convergence and fragmentation across the standards and voluntary initiatives landscape.
Direct Contributions
Our team lead, Kaya Axelsson, led technical authorship for the International Standard Organisation’s Net Zero Guidelines used by actors ranging from corporates to government departments.
Expert Consultation and Advice
Our team regularly contributes to consultation processes to inform the latest standards, including VCMI, GHGP, SBTi, and ISO and sector standards.
Private Sector Engagement
Our team works with sustainable business networks to convene private sector partners for precompetitive collaboration on net zero alignment in the real economy. Our private sector collaborations include:
Net Zero Assessment Tool
Net zero self-assessment tool for businesses seeking to test their alignment with the latest net zero guidance. This Readiness Check is hosted by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and includes a 42-question checklist for companies. This is currently being rolled out to 200+ companies (WBCSD’s membership). https://www.theclimatedrive.org/net-zero-readiness-check
Defining Net Zero for Professional Services
Our Net Zero Integrity Manager, Alexis McGivern, is Co-Chair of the Race to Zero Working Group to provide guidance for service providers (i.e, consultancies, financial institutions, law firms) on how they can scale high ambition net zero strategies. Within this we are running a series of workshops with key sectors on the levers they are using to scale net zero integrity across their networks of influence including:
- Consultancy Net Zero (CNZ) Knowledge Exchange, hosting consultations and running 4 workshops through 2024
https://climatechampions.unfccc.int/system/race-to-zero/
Wider Engagement
We engage regularly with major business associations’ sustainability officers on key issues related to net zero integrity, including offsetting, scope coverage and what net zero means for the fossil fuel industry including a managed phase out and the definition of abatement.
An image of a wind farm.
Youth and Civil Society Engagement
Our public-facing work on net zero integrity includes:
Youth Climate Training
Training programme for young climate activists to deepen their technincal literacy across the different UNFCCC negotiations tracks ahead of COP28, with 4,500 climate justice activists attending.
Net Zero Wikipedia
We are working to support the development of a new Net Zero Wikipedia page, which previously defaulted to ‘Carbon Neutral’.
Demystifying Net Zero
We regularly deliver a presentation called “Demystifying Net Zero” on the key terms and guidance. We are available to give this presentation as needed.
Civil Society Perceptions
We have an ongoing research project on civil society/climate justice perceptions of the net zero governance landscape, with groups and actors such as ClientEarth. These will support a research paper to inform our standards community on opportunities for growth in net zero definition and norms. Please contact alexis.mcgivern@ouce.ox.ac.uk for more information.
Public Fellows Seminars
See our next public seminar as a part of the Oxford Net Zero Fellows Seminar Series.
About Us
Kaya Axelsson
Our team lead, covering our workstreams on standards and policy engagement.
Alexis McGivern
Our Net Zero Integrity Manager, leads our workstream on private sector, civil society, and youth engagement.
Ranjita Rajan
Serves on our team as a Business Fellow of the Smith School, advising on our private sector work streams, including our private equity and professional services initiatives.
Lucilla Dias
Leads our net zero policy and regulation tracking.
Dr Matilda Becker
Coordinates across Oxford Net Zero’s strategic partnerships in policy, civil society, business, and standards
Dr Aoife Brophy
Lecturer in Innovation and Enterprise and ONZ co-investigator
Lauren McCormack
Supports our team on Communications content and writing.
News and Events
Oxford Net Zero announces affiliation with Reuben College
Oxford Net Zero is pleased to announce an affiliation with Reuben College. This new strategic partnership will allow us to collaborate more closely on environmental change, which we are both working to address as a core ... Read more
Using natural carbon sinks to offset emissions will not stop global warming, scientists say
As the COP29 negotiations continue, a new study published today in Nature demonstrates that protecting and maintaining natural carbon sinks, while vitally important, will not compensate for ongoing fossil fuel use. Natural carbon sinks such ... Read more
ONZ Fellows contribute to progress report for UN Secretary General
A new report, published today at COP29 in Baku and presented to the UN Secretary General, details the progress that non-state entities are making towards high-integrity net zero commitments. The report is a follow-up to the 2022 Integrity ... Read more
Job opening: Postdoctoral Research Associate in Carbon Accounting
The School of Geography and the Environment and the Department of Earth Sciences are recruiting a Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) in Carbon Accounting to work on the Net Zero Aviation project. This position involves researching carbon ... Read more
Young climate leaders funded by Oxford Net Zero and SSEE to attend COP29
The inaugural cohort of Global Youth Climate Training (GYCT) Programme bursary recipients will arrive in Baku, Azerbaijan in the coming days, ready to participate in their individual streams of work at COP29. The GYCT, a collaboration between ... Read more
Call for participants: “Unlocking the power of youth to develop equity in net-zero governance”
Oxford Net Zero's Engagement Team have an open call for youth aged 18-35 years old to participate in a new 8-month long research project to embed equity criteria into net-zero governance. There is perhaps no single demographic that will be ... Read more
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