Principles for making a net zero commitment
Principles for making a net zero commitment
net zero: Joining the race, investing, and offsetting
This page provides principles for joining the race to net zero, investing in alignment with net-zero goals, and approaching carbon offsetting in alignment with net zero commitments. Click on the buttons to find out more about each set of research-based principles, or scroll down to browse through all three.
how to commit to net zero:
Criteria for joining the race to zero
Net zero commitments are now expected standards for companies, local, regional and national governments. The following are clear steps to follow in setting net zero commitments, developed by the University of Oxford through an extensive series of stakeholder workshops. These are the same as the minimum criteria for the UNFCCC-backed Race to Zero Campaign ahead of the Conference of Parties in Glasgow this year, a pivotal moment in global climate negotiations. By taking these steps your institution can join the global effort to meet the Paris Agreement goals.
The steps below come from the official criteria for joining the Race to Zero campaign. The criteria were created by the networks and initiatives that form the race to zero’s international climate action community. Download a mapping of the criteria here, which provides questions to ask your institution about its targets.
Looking for tools to help you follow these steps?
1 – PLEDGE
Act immediately.
2 – PLAN
3 – PROCEED
4 – PUBLISH
HOW TO COMMIT TO NET ZERO:
PRINCIPLES OF NET ZERO-ALIGNED INVESTMENT
The Oxford Martin Principles for Net Zero-Aligned Investing provide a framework for engagement between climate-conscious investors and companies across the global economy. Building upon the science of long-term climate change, they focus on how investments contribute to the global stock of cumulative carbon dioxide emissions, complementing other measures, such as carbon footprinting, that focus on emission flows.
Looking for tools to help you follow these steps?
1 – COMMIT TO NET-ZERO EMISSIONS
2 – DEVELOP A PROFITABLE NET-ZERO BUSINESS MODEL
3 – use QUANTITATIVE MEDIUM-TERM TARGETS
how to commit to net zero:
Net ZERO-AliGNED OFFSETTING PRINCIPLES
Carbon offsetting is a widespread tool in efforts to achieve net zero emissions. But current approaches to offsetting are unlikely to deliver the types of offsets needed to achieve global climate goals. Net zero pledges from many companies, such as those recently from BP and Google, and the recent 2060 “carbon neutrality” pledge from China are likely to use offsets. And many industry leaders are working to develop standards such as the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, as well as the Taskforce on Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets. But what types of offsets are aligned with pathways to net zero and under what conditions should they be used? The Oxford Principles for Net Zero Aligned Carbon Offsetting, provide guidelines to help ensure offsetting actually helps to achieve a net zero society.
Looking for tools to help you follow these steps?
1 – Cut emissions, use high quality offsets, and regularly revise offsetting strategy as best practice evolves
2 – Shift offsetting towards carbon removal
3 – Shift offsetting towards long-lived storage
4 – Support the development of net zero aligned offsetting
News and Events


New UK Data: Find Climate Opinions in your Local Community on this Map
This map describes estimates of public opinion on climate change and policy support by NUTS 3 regions in the United Kingdom. The estimates were generated from statistical models that incorporate survey data from the European Values Survey ... Read more


Oxford Net Zero to Co-host a Climate Neutrality Forum: Register Your Interest
Bringing together leading researchers, policymakers and practitioners working on achieving climate neutrality, the meeting will take place simultaneously at three hubs – Berlin, Milan and Oxford – linked together to create a blended event that ... Read more


Majority of Americans Covered by a Net Zero Target: Policy Opportunity for the Biden Administration
Climate policy in the United States is at an inflection point. A new Oxford Net Zero report demonstrates that for the first time, a majority of Americans live in a jurisdiction with a net zero emissions target. Furthermore, US companies ... Read more


Oxford Net Zero Is Recruiting Fellows!
We are delighted to announce several new roles as part of the new Oxford Net Zero Initiative. The University is investing £2.2m in this transformative new programme, bringing together its world-leading expertise across Geography, Physics, ... Read more


COP26 Universities Network Briefing on Carbon Offsetting
How can carbon offsetting help UK further and higher education institutions achieve net zero emissions? Download the Briefing Paper There are a range of views on the use of carbon offsetting among academics, higher and further education ... Read more


Launched: ICC SME Climate Hub – Action Tools for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses
The SME Climate Hub has joined forces with Oxford University to provide small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with tools and resources to help them take climate action. Ahead of the 5th anniversary of the Paris Agreement signing, the freely ... Read more
See more news and events