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South Ken ZEN+ Programme

South Ken ZEN+ - Leading positive change

Together the 22 members of the Exhibition Road Cultural Group (ERCG), a partnership of world-leading science and arts institutions in South Kensington, are committed to tackling the greatest challenge of our age. South Ken ZEN+ is our collective response to the climate and biodiversity crisis.

With the parallel aims of becoming a zero emissions (ZE) and nature-positive (N+) neighbourhood, we have joined forces to deploy our world-leading creativity and expertise in science and the arts to help us go further and faster via a collective approach that reaches beyond our individual organisations to meet our net-zero, nature positive goals for South Kensington.

Zero emissions
When the carbon emitted into the atmosphere is equal to the carbon removed from it.

Nature positive
When species and ecosystems are restored and regenerating, not declining.

The South Ken Zen+ Programme expands and amplifies the good work that is already happening across our membership through sharing knowledge, research and expertise and encouraging collaborations to help us go faster together.

We have four priority areas:

  • Zero Emissions
  • Nature Positive
  • Circular Economy
  • Sustainable Travel

The programme of work includes:

  • Emissions Reporting Toolkit: a data collection and reporting methodology to measure our Scope 1, 2 (and some 3) emissions, compare similar institutions/functions and track reductions over time 
  • A Charter for a Sustainable Supply Chain: Shaping a sustainable supply chain together via a range of procurement commitments and working with our suppliers to encourage them to decarbonise their operations too 
  • A Knowledge Network: harnessing the existing expertise within our network to build a forum for continuous learning, sharing and discussion to deploy rigorous, practical solutions to accelerate progress towards our goals. 
  • Working with our neighbours to develop, transformational greening improvements, and projects to help ensure that South Ken, as a cherished place where people live, work, study and visit, is resilient to a rapidly changing climate.

Find out how you can get involved and share your views on climate change and nature loss in South Kensington, click here.

South Kensington - London's home of arts and science.
Algae Meadow - part of the South Ken Green Trail in 2021 (credit Luke O'Donovan)