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.
Tracking Net Zero Policy
We have begun tracking key net zero policy and regulation instruments in the G20 to allow us to support coalition efforts to accelerate the expansion of critical policies for 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
Net Zero Regulation Stocktake
What does the road to regulation look like, and how will we get there? Regulations related to the transition to net zero are already in place in a number of jurisdictions and are recommended by the United Nations to accelerate the transition to ... Read more
Oxford Net Zero launches autumn webinar series
Join us this autumn for a series of webinars led by Oxford Net Zero fellows! Read more
Professor Myles Allen appointed Fellow of the Royal Society
Professor Myles Allen appointed Fellow of the Royal Society Read more
Oxford Net Zero is Hiring – Join as Fossil Fuel Fellow
Oxford Net Zero has an exciting opening for a Research Fellow on Net Zero for the Fossil Fuel Sector and non-stipendiary Research Fellowship at Kellogg College. We are seeking to appoint a Research Fellow on Net Zero for the Fossil Fuel Sector ... Read more
ONZ Fellow Dr Conor Hickey awarded visiting fellowship at Harvard Business School
Oxford Net Zero Research Fellow Dr Conor Hickey has today been announced as one of five 'Business in Global Society' Visiting Fellows at Harvard Business School's Institute for the Study of Business in Global Society (BiGS). Dr Hickey of the ... Read more
Global Youth Climate Training Programme to launch in May 2023
Applications for the Global Youth Climate Training Programme to open in May 2023 Read more
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