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12 December 2023

Impact on a local, national, and global scale: King's publishes report highlighting contributions towards UN's Sustainable Development Goals

The report details some of the diverse ways King’s work aligns with the SDGs to support the global effort to build a better world.

KCL SDG report

King’s has published a new report as part of its Times Higher Education Impact Rankings submission, highlighting progress throughout 2021-2022 towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report details case studies showcasing the breadth of talent and range of projects undertaken at King’s across our operations, research, education, and engagement that contribute to the SDGs.

The UN SDGs provide a global framework for targeted action towards the most pressing global issues, covering 17 key areas that are vital to creating a peaceful, prosperous, and secure world. Set out in the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the SDGs cover a range of topics from climate and sustainability to poverty, hunger inequality, innovation and education.

In the report’s foreword, Professor Shitij Kapur, Vice-Chancellor & President of King’s, said:

For nearly two centuries, King’s has been dedicated to leveraging our resources and capabilities to build a better world for all. Today, in the face of unprecedented global challenges, it is our collective responsibility to design the technology, systems and knowledge that will ensure a sustainable future for generations to come. Universities play a critical role in this mission, and King’s is proud to be leading the way through our research, education and service commitments.

Professor Shitij Kapur, Vice-Chancellor & President of King’s

Through a variety of research projects and groups, educational modules and study programmes, operational projects, policies and services, King’s has centred positive global impact within its objectives.

Going beyond work at the university-level, the report also details of staff and student-led initiatives and societies, showcasing how the King’s community is coming together to make a positive difference in the local area and beyond. King’s approach tackles each SDG from a multiscalar, interdisciplinary perspective.

Professor Frans Berkhout, Assistant Principal (King’s Climate & Sustainability), said:

This report highlights just some of the fantastic projects and activities by the King’s community contributing to building a better society. Through our new transformative initiative, King’s Climate & Sustainability, we are seeking to embed sustainability into everything we do, enabling a fundamental shift in our education, research and operations, while informing and enabling transitions to sustainability in London, the UK and internationally.

Professor Frans Berkhout, Assistant Principal (King’s Climate & Sustainability)