King's makes the finals of the Green Gown Awards

10 November 2022

King's makes the finals of the Green Gown Awards

King’s was shortlisted in three categories of the 2022 Green Gown Awards UK & Ireland in recognition of outstanding sustainability initiatives.

Image of the Strand courtyard with students sitting around.

King’s was selected as a finalist in three categories of the 2022 Green Gown Awards UK & Ireland. These awards, in association with UKRI, recognise the outstanding sustainability initiatives at different universities and colleges.

The winners were announced at the Green Gown Awards Ceremony on 8 November 2022, which members of King’s Sustainability Team (Kat Thorne, Maria Rabanser, Alexandra Hepple) and student champion Clarisse Mace attended. There were 84 finalists across 15 categories.

2030 Climate Action

Image of three King's CAN members standing in the Exchange during a CAN social.

The King’s Climate Action Network (CAN) was selected as a finalist in the 2030 Climate Action Category. This category focuses on the steps that institutions are taking or plan to take to meet their sustainability targets.

The King’s CAN is an open, interdisciplinary forum for co-creating and implementing the university’s Climate and Sustainability Action Plan. With many sub-groups tackling a wide range of climate issues, this network always puts students and staff at the centre of King's approach to climate action. More than 400 students and staff have joined the King’s CAN since its beginnings in October 2020. The judges described it as an innovative way of engagement centred on staff and students.

Being selected as a finalist is a recognition of the difference that King’s students, staff, and alumni are making. King’s Climate Action Network shows the value of collaboration and inclusion of diverse views for making King’s more sustainable and the world a better place. Thanks to all CAN members!
Professor Shitij Kapur, President & Principal

Sustainability Champions

The Sustainability Champions category recognises individuals who have worked incredibly hard to implement a sustainability project that has had a positive impact on their colleagues, their institution, or the local community. King's had two finalists in the category of sustainability champions: a student and a staff member.

Staff: Fatima Wang

Fatima Wang is a Staff Sustainability Champion finalist. She is a Senior Lecturer in Marketing at King's Business School. Fatima’s research interests include international business strategy, services, and sustainability.

Through research, education and community engagement, universities have huge potential to have a positive impact on local communities and to forge unique collaborations.
Fatima Wang, Senior Lecturer in Marketing

She has established nine green impact initiatives for MSc students studying sustainability in collaboration with Lambeth’s Air Quality Team and Business Improvement Districts. She also launched a new project on low-traffic neighbourhoods in Lambeth to motivate residents to adopt greener modes of transport. As a member of King’s Climate Action Network, she has led activities to bring together sustainability researchers from across the university, and she is an active King’s Sustainability Champion.

This is a celebration of King’s Business School’s efforts to make the world a better place. Fatima’s work sets the tone for how our staff can drive a more ethical, inclusive and sustainable business world through impactful teaching, research, and extracurricular engagement. Congratulations!
Professor Stephen Bach, Executive Dean, King's Business School

Student: Clarisse Mace

Clarisse Mace is a Student Sustainability Champion finalist. She studied the Master of Laws LLM at King’s and has stayed engaged even as an alumnus. Clarisse’s main interest is in environmental law.

I am passionate about this project as I think that learning about climate change is the first step to taking action. Even though environmental education is key to having a well-educated population ready to face current and future challenges, it is currently lacking in curricula. Due to the importance of this and my passion, I have been working on this module in a voluntary capacity for over a year.
Clarisse Mace, King's LLM alumnus

She began volunteering with the King’s Sustainability Team to assist in the development of our new course, Sustainability & Climate: Learn, Discover, Take Action. She has covered various aspects of the climate crisis and sustainability with a diverse and growing group of students and staff.

Clarisse is an inspiring example of someone who goes above and beyond to make a difference. Even as an alumnus, she has continued to spread awareness about sustainability across the King’s community. Congratulations!
Professor Shitij Kapur, President & Principal