Kingston University scooped two gongs at the Council's annual Green Guardian Awards on January 25, in recognition of its exceptional efforts in building a brighter future for the borough.

Senior engineering lecturer Paul Brandon won the Green Concept award for the development of an electric motorcycle which competed at the 2009 Isle of Man TT race, while the University’s Sustainability Hub was “highly commended” in the same category.

Mr Brandon said: “I’m very surprised to receive the award but there has been a lot of hard work put in with the team involved, so it is great recognition.”

The team is currently developing a commuter vehicle based on the race-prepared machine which, Mr Brandon claims, could be complete within a month with the help of his students. He is also planning another assault on the TT race where he hopes the electric bike will average 100mph, just 35mph, on average, slower than the leading-class super bikes.

KU’s Sustainabilty Hub - an organisation set up within the University to drive eco-friendly activity - was acclaimed for its work within the University to cut carbon emissions and promote the importance of managing the world’s resources. It has also designed three new undergraduate courses, which, it says, is set “achieve and probably exceed” its target of 25 students per course.

Elise Toogood, outreach officer for the Hub, said: “The award is a fantastic achievement and it shows that there is recognition in the local community for all of the initiatives we are currently co-ordinating in the University.”

"The Green Guardian Awards play a really important role if we are going to persuade people to change their lives" - Edward Davey

The Hub is currently running the 10:10 Campaign - the goal of which is to reduce carbon emissions by ten per cent in 2010.

Its other projects include Lunch and Learn seminars for students, the Student Switch-Off Campaign encouraging better energy efficiency in halls of residence, and the Middle Mill Garden Project, promoting home-grown produce.

Carlos Queremel, Community Environment Officer for Kingston Council, said: “The Awards really gives a boost to what the council is doing, giving people a little pat on the back to say ‘well done and keep going’, and what they are doing is recognised.”

MP for Kingston Edward Davey also applauded the achievements of all the nominees and winners, stressing that these must be upheld as an example to follow for the rest of the borough.

Mr Davey said: "The Green Guardian Awards play a really important role if we are going to persuade people to change their lives. We need to see the winners and nominees as champions and give them the praise and status they deserve." 

Students can assess their individual carbon footprint using the Council’s new eco-calculator, which can be found at www.kingstonfootprint.co.uk.

Despite leaden skies and patchy rain on a cold December afternoon, over 50,000 people from organisations, charities, universities and even schools marched through the heart of London, holding placards aloft –  saying ‘Protect The Poorest’ and ‘Climate Change Kills’ – at The Wave . They were joined by 23 KU students, lecturers and staff in a bid to save the world.

Dressed in blue, with blue painted faces and hands, they danced, drummed and chanted to urge the Government to strike a deal at the climate change summit in Copenhagen to slow global warming.

In Copenhagen, the outlook for agreement is looking increasingly bleak. The summit is in a desperate state, so much so that on Tuesday, PM Gordon Brown flew out two days early in a bid to “raise the ambitions” of the delegates and get proceedings back on track.

Charlotte Zakss, a third year sustainable development student, said: “I believe very strongly that by making our presence known on this march we helped give Ed Miliband the backup he needs to persuade Gordon Brown to support him at the summit with further financial incentives.”

One of the major stalling points in Copenhagen is how much the west will have to contribute to help the poorest nations become greener.

Morris Marah, President of the United Nations Association of KU (UNAKU) who spoke on BBC Radio Four, said: “The leaders came together at the G20 summit and fixed the financial crisis. The same seriousness should be applied to climate change.”

The bloody, violent protests on the streets of Copenhagen, in which almost 1500 activists have been arrested in the last few days, and the bleak situation the summit finds itself in, is a world away from the peaceful optimism of The Wave march - the UK's biggest ever action on climate change - 12 days ago where families and small children turned out to support the demonstration set up by Stop Climate Chaos Coalition.

 Nicole Milloy, a second year sustainable development student, said: “Attending The Wave was moving, heart-warming and inspirational.  Seeing thousands upon thousands of people, of all ages, race and religions joining together to campaign for one vital cause was amazing.”

But only one in a thousand of KU’s 23,000 students turned out to support the issue that has surpassed the global economic crisis as the world’s leading debate. The lack of attendance could be explained as “a matter of priority” with many students facing deadlines at this time of year.

Miss Zakss went on to say: “Personally, I thought it was a real shame that not more Kingston students were there - this is going to affect all of us, we can't hide from it, and no seems to be bothered to do anything about it!”