King's College London scores 50/100 (Making progress) on SINK's independent climate assessment — scored from public data only, no company payment can change a number. Last verified September 2026.
That places King's College London joint 139th of 780 companies scored, and joint 39th of 66 in Higher Education / Universities.
King's College London reports Scope 1+2 emissions under GHG Protocol but lacks third-party assurance. Scope 1+2 has flatlined since 2019 while Scope 3 procurement emissions surged 80%. The institution has downgraded its net zero target three times—from 2025 to 2030 to 2045—a pattern of weakening commitments despite renewable electricity procurement via PPA.
This score is built from public data only. If your practice is stronger than your disclosure, submit evidence for review — or challenge any question, free.
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleStrongest on Transparency & Accountability and Controversies & Red Flags (7/10, 7/10). Weakest on Water Impact and Nature & Biodiversity Impact (4/10, 4/10).
12 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which rubric questions it informed.
“Total scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions: 25,968.5 tCO2e (HESA EMR Table-3, 2023/24, UKPRN 10003645)”
“King's Scope 1 & 2 emissions have remained steady in recent years.”
“King's College London's Carbon Emissions Inventory 2024-25.”
“Our Climate & Sustainability Action Plan sets out our actions towards achieving our ambitious targets on reducing scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.”
“KCL's Scope 1 and 2 emissions in 2019-20 were 24,506 tonnes, rising slightly to 24,559 tonnes in 2022-23.”
“The Carbon Sinks section has been renamed to Biodiversity and a new section on Philanthropy has been added.”
“In May of 2024, Urban Bees installed 24 bee hotels and 6 bee observations boxes across King's estate.”
“Currently we manage 24 separate waste streams with the greatest volume being general waste, mixed recycling and clinical waste.”
“The King's Climate & Sustainability water plan helps conserve water and reduce waste.”
“Our EMS is certified to the ISO14001:2015 international standard by NQA and since June 2017 has included activities across all King's directly-managed campuses.”
“signing a Power Purchase Agreement with wind farms to supply nearly one-fifth of our annual electricity baseload.”
“Over the past few years, our recycling rates at King's have dropped.”
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Where King's College London sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 66 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, King's College London is tied =39th of 66, with 5 others.
As King's College London's score updates, the trajectory will appear here.
This score is not currently being contested.
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King's College London is a public research university in London, UK, comprising nine campuses across central London. Among the UK's top-tier universities, KCL conducts research across law, medicine, sciences, and humanities with significant laboratory and clinical operations.
Peer institution, research-intensive London university with similar operational emissions profile.
View breakdown →Peer institution, UK top-tier research university with comparable size and decarbonisation challenges.
View breakdown →Peer institution, London-based research university with concentrated urban campus footprint.
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