News archive 2008

King’s shows way for London Leaders

22 Dec 2008, PR 270/08

King’s outstanding credentials as a sustainable organisation which also undertakes cutting-edge academic work in the area of climate change and environmental issues, were outlined in a speech by the Principal of King’s College London, Professor Rick Trainor, at the Royal Society.

Addressing ‘London Leaders’ and guests at an event hosted by the London Sustainable Development Commission to celebrate the achievements of the first year of the programme and the announcement of the 2009 London Leaders, Professor Rick Trainor, Principal of King’s and a 2008 London Leader, highlighted the College’s achievements as a role model.

His speech emphasised how the College has been recognised as a sustainable organisation as validated by external bodies, and the major research themes undertaken by King’s academics in the broad area of environmental issues.

In particular he highlighted initiatives undertaken by the Directorate of Estates & Facilities, led by Ian Caldwell, which had enjoyed national recognition, such as:

•    2004 ‘Energy Efficiency Accreditation Scheme (re-accreditation in 2007)            
•    2007 winner of the HEEPI Green Gown Award for ‘Sustainable Construction’
•    Pathfinder Organisation for the ‘Carbon Trust Standard Certification’
•    2008 Green Business Award ‘Best Construction / Property Business’ category.

Examples included a reduction in carbon emissions of 8,079 tonnes from the 2004 baseline, and the attainment of more than 60 per cent of controlled waste now being recycled.

On the related research, teaching and knowledge transfer accomplishments, Professor Trainor spoke about various themes including the:

•    focus on cities both by human and physical geographers
•    climate change and adaptation work
•    atmospheric and air quality research and remote sensing
•    water and energy: environment, climate, economics and modelling
•    risk, disasters, sustainable livelihoods and human security
•    consumption and governance.

Leading research groups

He described the leading research groups at King’s in these areas, such as: the Environmental Research Group; the Environmental Monitoring and Modelling Group; the Cities Group; the Environment, Politics and Development Group; the Hazards and Risks Group; and the Centre for Environmental Assessment, Management   and Policy (CEAMP).

Of particular note was the emerging King’s Institute for Urban Sustainability (KIUS), led by Paul Ekins, Professor of Energy and Environment Policy, which aims to use a variety of disciplines to generate practical solutions to the environmental challenges raised by modern urban living. An example he cited was the January 2008 symposium on air quality in London in which Frank Kelly, Professor of Environmental Health(?), and other speakers explored topics such as the effects of congestion charging on the incidence of asthma in children.

Professor Trainor also pointed out the recent award to a research group within the Department of Geography, led by Martin Wooster, Professor of Earth Observation Science, who won the Environmental Sciences Award of the first-ever London Knowledge Transfer Awards, sponsored by the London Development Agency, for a project estimating biomass burning smoke emissions from geostationary satellites.

The London Leaders programme is run by the London Sustainable Development Commission, which is supported by the Mayor. London Leaders are chosen by the Commission for their ability to inspire, motivate and innovate in their chosen field of knowledge or passion. Professor Trainor was one of 15 2008 London Leaders. At the event the 16 London Leaders for 2009 were announced. (London Leaders Press Release)

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson comments: ‘Inspirational individuals can really help to galvanise communities and organisations to make changes for the better and help create a more liveable, pleasant city now and for future generations.’

[Image from istockphoto, credit to: http://visibleearth.nasa.gov ]



Notes to editors

The London Leaders programme
The London Leaders programme is run by the London Sustainable Development Commission, which is supported by the Mayor. London Leaders are chosen by the Commission for their ability to inspire, motivate and innovate in their chosen field of knowledge or passion. www.londonsdc.org

King’s College London
King’s College London is one of the top 25 universities in the world (Times Higher Education 2008) and the fourth oldest in England. A research-led university based in the heart of London, King’s has 19,700 students from more than 150 countries, and 5,400 employees. King’s has an outstanding reputation for providing world-class teaching and cutting-edge research. The College is in the top group of UK universities for research earnings and has an overall annual income of approximately £450 million. An investment of £500 million has been made in the redevelopment of its estate.

King’s has a particularly distinguished reputation in the humanities, law, social sciences, the health sciences, natural sciences and engineering, and has played a major role in many of the advances that have shaped modern life, such as the discovery of the structure of DNA. It is the largest centre for the education of healthcare professionals in Europe and is home to five Medical Research Council Centres – a total unsurpassed by any other university.



Further information
Melanie Gardner, Senior Public Relations Officer,
Public Relations Department, King’s College London.
Tel: 020 7848 3073; email melanie.gardner@kcl.ac.uk

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