London Higher and London Councils announced five new knowledge partnerships between five borough-led climate programmes and four universities across London, including the University of Westminster, on 25 March 2022.
Westminster will be the lead institution on the ‘Creating a resilient and green London’ programme and the ‘Low-carbon transport’ programme. The former will ensure London is resilient to climate change and enhance green and blue infrastructure, while the latter will aim to halve road journeys made by petrol and diesel via combined measures that can restrict polluting journeys and incentivise sustainable and active travel options.
London Councils and London Higher have facilitated the knowledge partnerships to connect academics and policymakers to support the work of the borough-led, pan-London climate programmes. This will enable boroughs to use the best available evidence and data in their work and help higher education partners boost their role in civic leadership.
Each knowledge partnership is a two-way relationship. Local action to tackle the climate emergency will now benefit from research from London’s top universities, and academics will learn from London boroughs about real-world implementation and working with London’s communities.
Dr Peter Bonfield, Vice-Chancellor and President of University of Westminster and Vice Chair of London Higher, said: “We are delighted to partner with Kingston and City of Westminster and Southwark Council on two of the knowledge partnerships announced.
“Supporting the programme with up-to-date data and evidence, and keeping the programme abreast of new policy-relevant literature will help policymakers understand and shape their evidence needs. By acting as a bridge to the wider academic sector, we hope that these partnerships serve as a model for future university- local government relationships.”
Commenting on the partnerships, Dr Diana Beech, CEO of London Higher, said: “I am delighted that London Higher and London Councils have joined forces to launch these five ambitious knowledge partnerships. Working together, these truly pan-London programmes will create a real sense of cross-city collaboration, formed between the lead boroughs and London Higher members with genuine expertise and interest in each of these areas.
“By introducing councils to universities elsewhere in the city, not just those local to the lead borough, we hope that these programmes will help to establish long-lasting relationships between local councils and universities right across London, and will go on to form the blueprint for the use of university expertise city-wide.”
Mayor Philip Glanville, Chair of the Transport and Environment Committe of London Councils, said: “I am thrilled that London Councils and London Higher are announcing these knowledge partnerships […], which will allow academics and policymakers to join forces and work with borough-led programmes aiming to cut carbon emissions and create a more sustainable and inclusive future for our city.
“The impressive spread of partnerships and expertise across boroughs and institutions will enhance London Councils’ climate programmes and allow them to flourish even more. Together, we can create and champion solutions to embed urban green living in our communities, ensure the transition to a net zero economy is a just one, and create the skills and jobs our residents so desperately need.”
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