Engagement Team
Our team operates at the intersection of research and practice to operationalize net-zero governance and action for integrity, urgency, and equity. We work collaboratively and positively with businesses, governments, civil society, and international standards processes to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and real world action at local, regional, national, and international levels.
Sitting within the interdisciplinary ONZ research group (which comprises more than 30 researchers across 11 Departments of the University of Oxford), the Engagement Team provides an integrated and up-to-date perspective on the scientific, environmental, economic, and policy dimensions of achieving net-zero emissions. Through active engagement with business leaders, policy makers, civil society representatives, and international standards processes, we ensure that cutting-edge research insights are brought into the rapidly evolving net-zero landscape.
Simultaneously, our team works with partners beyond the University to identify critical knowledge gaps and address them through high-impact academic research. By involving diverse stakeholders at every stage, we ensure our research is grounded in real-world needs, driving meaningful change for a sustainable future.
The scope of our work currently covers four core areas, with partnerships in:
- International net-zero standardisation
- National and international policy and regulation
- Private sector companies
- Youth and civil society actors
Do you have a research idea for our team? Get in touch via the ONZ email address.
Standards
Achieving net zero by 2050 requires collective action from non-state actors across sectors — businesses, financial institutions, educational organizations, and others. These entities rely heavily on international standards to guide their decarbonization strategies, helping them prepare for the transition to net zero, measure and reduce emissions, and address broader societal and environmental impacts. Without robust, clear, and appropriate standards, efforts to align global climate goals risk fragmentation, inefficiency, and inconsistency.
Our team works to ensure that non-state actors have access to comprehensive, science-based guidance for achieving net zero. We play a leading role in developing and refining standards, advocating for interoperability, reducing fragmentation, and embedding the latest academic and scientific knowledge. When challenges or ambiguities arise—such as optimizing Scope 3 emissions or navigating the use of carbon credits—we provide the latest academic insights to support best practices that drive effective and credible climate action.
Standards mapping and research
The net-zero standards landscape is often critiqued as being complex and contradictory. To overcome this false perception and provide clarity on the voluntary net-zero landscape, our team systematically reviewed the guidance provided by standards and voluntary initiatives, assessment and disclosure regimes to trace common and emerging good practice. This has formed the basis of other summaries of guidance, including that hosted on the Net Zero Tracker’s website.
Key Paper: https://netzeroclimate.org/mapping-voluntary-initiative-landscape/
Oxford Offsetting Principles
Our team lead, Kaya Axelsson, was a lead author on the Oxford Offsetting Principles which charts a course for organisations to navigate the evolving landscape of carbon markets and offsetting practices. Key highlights include urgent calls to accelerate emission reductions, close the carbon removal gap, and harness the power of nature-based solutions.
Key Paper: https://www.smithschool.ox.ac.uk/research/oxford-offsetting-principles
Climate Solutions Framework
In partnership with Exponential Roadmap Initiative, we developed the “Climate Solutions: A framework for defining climate solutions and climate solutions companies”, which outlines how organisations can identify and define climate solutions products, services and companies. This guidance is vital for entities wanting to transition the products they sell or buy towards greener alternatives, or wanting to label themselves as climate solutions companies. In the midst of subjective, relative and often untransparent claims and labelling regarding climate solutions, this framework provides clarity and rigour for practitioners.
Framework: https://exponentialroadmap.org/climate-solutions/
Just transition, Equity and Climate Justice Guidance
In partnership with the British Standards Institution, and funded by the UKRI’s ACCESS FundNetwork, we have recruited a cohort of twelve youth from around the world to create equity and justice-focussed criteria for incorporation in net-zero standards. Our aim is to demonstrate how youth and other marginalised voices can be upskilled to participate in the standards processes, can contribute meaningful expertise to standards-making processes, and demonstrate a methodological proof of concept of how to bring youth expertise into climate governance.
ACCESS Project: https://accessnetwork.uk/unlocking-the-power-of-youth-to-develop-equity-in-net-zero-governance/
Net-Zero Standards - Technical Contributions and consultation responses
We lead and contribute expertise via Technical Working Groups for several standards, including the International Standard Organisation’s Net-Zero Guidelines, the Science-Based Targets Initiative, and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s Corporate Standard. 2025-2026 represents a unique moment to input changes to many key standards that are being revised.
Our team also regularly contributes to wider consultation processes to inform the latest standards, including VCMI, GHGP, SBTi, and ISO and sector standards.
Policy
Effective policy and regulation are critical for achieving global net-zero. Policymakers at the international and national levels must design instruments that drive accountability, support robust climate action, and ensure integrity in emissions reductions. However, inconsistent policy frameworks and gaps in the global net-zero accountability and integrity landscape risk undermining progress toward these objectives. Keeping policy frameworks aligned with the latest science and best practices is essential to maintain momentum and credibility in the transition to net zero.
Our team provides up-to-date research on net-zero policy and regulation, tracking developments and analyzing policy instruments at both the international and national levels. We work closely with international coalitions to identify and address gaps in the global net-zero accountability framework. Through these efforts, we help build a foundation for strong, transparent, and science-driven policies that enhance trust and enable effective climate action.
Policy and Regulatory Research
Building on recent stocktakes of international net-zero policy and regulatory instruments in the G20, we are researching how specific policy levers including procurement can accelerate sectoral transformations towards net zero.
Net Zero Stocktake: https://netzeroclimate.org/publications/net-zero-stocktake-2024/
Net Zero Accountability
Our team lead, Kaya Axelsson, has been appointed Co-Chair of the International Climate Politics Hub Working Group on Net Zero Accountability and chairs coordination meetings with over forty NGOs developing advocacy positions and efforts to advance net-zero policy and close gaps in the international net-zero accountability ecosystem.
Net-Zero Regulation and Policy Hub
We are key partners of the Net-Zero Regulation and Policy Hub, at the Blavatnik School of Governance, University of Oxford. We use this partnership to input our knowledge of best practice and trends in the international standards landscape into research design and analysis of the international policy and regulation landscape. We recently supported the publication of a G20 briefing based on international mapping of regulation.
Net-Zero Policy Network
We run the Net-Zero Policy Network, bringing together practitioners from around the world who work on net-zero policy within governments, business, financial industries, and civil society. We host quarterly webinars and newsletters for broad reach engagement.
Youth and Civil Society Engagement
Youth and civil society play a crucial role in shaping the future of climate action, offering fresh perspectives and advocating for equity and justice in the transition to net zero. However, these groups often face challenges in accessing the knowledge, resources, and platforms needed to engage meaningfully in global climate governance. Ensuring youth and civil society have the resources to actively participate is essential for a more inclusive, transparent, and effective net-zero movement.
Our team works to empower youth and civil society by providing training, platforms, and opportunities for engagement in the climate policy landscape. Through programs like the Global Youth Climate Training, we equip young people with the skills and confidence to participate in international climate discussions. We also engage with youth cohorts to contribute to the development of more equitable net-zero standards and conduct research to amplify civil society perspectives on climate justice and governance. These efforts aim to ensure that the voices of youth and marginalized communities are central to the ongoing evolution of global net-zero frameworks.
Youth Climate Training
Our team runs the annual Global Youth Climate Training Programme to equip people aged 16-35 with the knowledge and confidence necessary to engage in international climate policy. In both the 2023 and the 2024 iterations, we received over 10,000+ applicants. In 2024, we supported five young people with full bursaries to attend COP29, created a virtual conference space, and saw a highly engaged international cohort launch their own spin-out projects including a Pacific-youth focused training programme.
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.
Private Sector Engagement
The private sector plays a pivotal role in advancing global net-zero goals by adopting ambitious climate strategies and fostering innovation. Yet, businesses often face knowledge gaps and structural barriers that hinder effective action. Addressing these challenges requires clear guidance, practical tools, and collaborative efforts to define best practices across industries. Building the capacity of businesses to lead on climate action is essential to unlocking their full potential in the transition to net zero.
Our team collaborates with businesses and industry leaders to advance best practices, bridge knowledge gaps, and enable ambitious corporate climate action. By equipping businesses with the resources, frameworks, and expertise needed to navigate the net-zero transition, we empower them to take meaningful and credible action. Through these efforts, we aim to strengthen private sector engagement, foster innovation, and support the global drive toward achieving net zero.
Net Zero Assessment Tool
We partnered with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) to create the Climate Readiness Check, a free tool for businesses to assess their compliance against the net-zero governance landscapes.
Readiness Check: https://www.theclimatedrive.org/net-zero-readiness-check
Defining Net Zero for Professional Services
We are working to engage with service providers (i.e, consultancies, financial institutions, law firms) on how they can scale high ambition net-zero strategies. In 2024, we launched the Serviced Emissions report after a four-month consultation on the draft released at COP28. We had two successful in-person launches at NY Climate Week and in London, bringing together leaders from across the professional services industry. Our Net Zero Integrity Manager, Alexis McGivern, is Co-Chair of the Race to Zero Working Group, which brought together key representatives from law firms, advertisers, and other creative agencies, to define the initial guidelines for ‘serviced emissions’ and the draft principles launched at COP28.
Corporate Spheres of Influence
Our team published the paper “Is impact out of scope: A call for innovation in climate standards to inspire action across companies’ Spheres of Influence”, with the ambition of innovating company reporting standards and promoting climate action beyond ‘scopes’. This framework encourages company action towards global net-zero, and the influence and impact they can have through their products, political engagement and purchasing. We are engaging with a variety of international companies to socialise this concept and develop its impact.
Executive Education
We developed and delivered the first joint SBS-SSEE Executive Education course, the Oxford Sustainable Business Programme, which delivered its first 5 day in-person course in October 2024 upskilling business leaders on the science, strategy, and standards of net-zero.
The next iteration will be held in September 2025.
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.
Our team
Alexis McGivern
Head of Stakeholder Engagement & Team Lead
Leads our work streams on private sector, civil society, and youth engagement. Sets the team strategy.
Kaya Axelsson
Policy & Partnerships Research Fellow
Leads our work streams on standards, policy, and private sector engagement.
Dr Matilda Becker
Strategic Partnerships Manager
Coordinates engagement across our workstreams and leads on the management and delivery of research projects.
Rosalind Chaston
Policy & Business Engagement Officer
Works across policy and private sector engagement through research and supports the development of the NZPN.
Dr Aoife Brophy
Research Lecturer
Lecturer in Innovation and Enterprise and ONZ Co-Investigator
News and Events
Job opening: Serviced Emissions Research & Engagement Manager
The Oxford Net Zero Engagement Team is recruiting for a Serviced Emissions Research & Engagement Manager. This pivotal role will lead a high-impact initiative focused on advancing the understanding and integration of “serviced emissions” ... Read more
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Oxford Net Zero and Carbon Balance researchers reveal the risks of the current UK CCS policy mix and explore how a carbon storage mandate on fossil fuel producers could help the UK meet its climate targets while protecting public finances A ... Read more
Oxford Net Zero partners with AXA XL on research in India, Mexico and Kenya
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Finance, Fossil Fuels and $10 coffee: Reflections on COP29
As we begin a new year, Oxford Net Zero looks back on the highs and lows of November's climate summit in Baku. In some ways, this COP was different. The venue was smaller than in previous years, which meant that attendees could have genuine ... Read more
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 objective. Professor ... 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
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