The King’s Climate Action Network (CAN) is an open, interdisciplinary forum which aims to bring together people from the King’s community who are passionate about sustainability and climate.
Throughout the next year, the CAN will implement actions from the co-created Sustainability & Climate Action Plan through dedicated Take Action teams. These teams will be led by trained and paid student project managers (~8 hours per month) and will cover topics from education to food.
The network is open to anyone at King’s – students, staff, alumni – as well as our key external partners. No prior knowledge is required. Climate action is an area the King’s community is increasingly passionate and concerned about, and we want to make sure that anyone who wants to contribute gets that chance. The next few years will be critical for climate action, and we have lots to do at King’s if we want to become net zero and ultimately absolute zero!
The CAN has regular meetings throughout the year. The TakeAction Teams will meet every other week and we will hold plenary session for the entire network twice per term. The meetings are a mix of hybrid and online.
You can find out more below and sign up via this form.
Ways to get involved in 2022/23
1. Climate Action Team Coordinators
The Climate Action Team Coordinators will lead an action group of volunteers to implement one of the actions from the Sustainability & Climate Action Plan. The currently proposed groups include actions around Education for Sustainability, engagement with local schools, a project with King’s Food, and a cycling project. These Coordinators will receive Project Management and Climate Literacy Training to develop the skills to lead these groups effectively. This is a paid opportunity for students for 8 hours per month.
Applications will open soon and close in mid-October for term 1. There will be another round of applications in term 2.
Who can apply? Current King’s students and recent alumni.
2. Climate Action Team Volunteers
The Climate Action Team Volunteers will be part of a group led by a Climate Action Team Coordinator, working collaboratively to implement one (or more) of the actions from the Sustainability & Climate Action Plan. The currently proposed groups include actions around Education for Sustainability, engagement with local schools, a project with King’s Food, and a cycling project. We expect that this will take about an hour per week (fortnightly meetings and independent work). These members will gain experience in project implementation and build teamwork skills while making a direct impact at King’s. You will receive a Sustainability Award for your involvement.
The term 1 project meetings will start in mid-November.
Who can apply? All King’s students, staff, and alumni.
3. Set up your own project
We are always keen to have people set up projects about topics they are particularly passionate about. The CAN will support you by providing general advice and guidance, connecting you with the relevant stakeholders, and finding volunteers who want to work on this with you.
Who? All King’s students, staff, and alumni.
4. Climate Action Network members
Anyone is welcome to join the network. Being a general member means that you will join our Teams group, receive regular updates about climate action, and that you will be invited to all the events and CAN plenaries without any commitments. Learn about climate action and get inspired to act!
Who can apply? All King’s students, staff, and alumni.
5. Climate listening campaign volunteers
Over the next few months, the CAN will be running a listening campaign in King’s local boroughs to identify how King’s might support them in taking action and/or how we could work together. The CAN is now recruiting volunteers to conduct these 121s with local communities. You will receive training from Citizens UK which will give you the skills needed to carry out the listening exercise and make change in your communities.
Apply here by the 9th of October. The training will take place w/c 10th of October.
Who can apply? All King’s students, staff, and alumni.
5. Culture & Climate Collective
King’s Culture & Climate Collective centers the arts, creativity and storytelling as powerful forces to realise sustainable futures for our university, city and planet. Created by and for King’s students, this Collective deploys intensive arts projects alongside vibrant participatory events that support young people to build community, generate new visions and take action to transform our climate emergency.
There are two ways to get involved:
- Weathervane gatherings: The Weathervanes are empowering events that blend collective artmaking, ideas exchange, sustainable feasts and organising trainings in the service of sustainability. Supported by aligned guest artists, Weathervanes use an Open Space format in which participants set their own agendas and explore collective wellbeing practices and creative strategies for climate activism. Dates: 13 October ‘22 (welcome), 15th November ‘22 (COP Manifesto), February ‘23 TBC (Sustainability Month party).
- Groundwater projects: The Collective supports professional artists and teams of students to co-design and deliver three-month Groundwater Projects. These projects incorporate a variety of artforms and processes, from zinemaking to short films, from campus installations to pop-up street performances. Four Groundwater Projects will be funded and facilitated by a different artist. Participating students receive a stipend and the King’s Experience or Sustainability Award. Timeline: Oct-Dec 2022 (round 1, two interventions), Feb-Apr 2023 (round 2, two interventions).
As a conclusions event, there will be a Street Party on the pedestrianised Strand-Aldwych space featuring climate-related performances, visual art and workshops.
Who can apply? Current King’s students.
About the King’s Climate Action Network
The King’s Climate Action Network (CAN) is an open, interdisciplinary forum which aims to bring together sustainability and climate expertise from the King’s community. It was created in October 2020 to co-create the university’s approach to climate action. In its first year, over 200 members from across King’s were involved and contributed to a list of more than 50 actions to be taken forward by the university. The Sustainability Team collated and consulted on these which resulted in the Climate & Sustainability Action Plan. In the 2021/22 academic year, the Network grew to almost 400 members and the focus shifted to implementing these actions.
The King’s CAN focuses on solutions to reduce our carbon emissions, while also maximising our positive impact on climate action. It covers the following categories:
- Zero Carbon Estate (energy and water use, sustainable construction)
- Procurement and Waste (purchasing policies and data, waste management)
- Travel (flights, business travel and commuting)
- Responsible Investment (investment in socially responsible funds)
- Students & Education (formal and informal education on climate change and sustainability)
- Community & Engagement (creating a positive impact as part of our net zero carbon target)
- Zero Carbon Research (maximising our climate expertise and collaboration)
