The Climate Toolkit provides an opportunity for you to SHARE, MENTOR and LEARN with fellow museums, gardens and zoos who want to want to aggressively address climate change in their operations. Learn more about what we do.

To date, 18 gardens serving more than 32,000,000 annual visitors have joined the Climate Toolkit.

JOIN US: To take the first steps in this important effort, please complete our survey today.

Use the search and filter functions below to find organizations that have achieved various important milestones, and see resources from those organizations to help you plan your own initiatives.

Tap the FILTER tab Filters to use the search and filter functions to find organizations that have achieved various important milestones, and see resources from those organizations to help you plan your own initiatives.

Search by Name

Using the Toolkit

Select a CHECKBOX to filter ORGANIZATIONS that have achieved a particular goal.

Select a DOCUMENT ICON  to show RESOURCES that will help you achieve that goal.

Energy

Meet the Paris Climate Agreement Targets for CO2 reduction —OR— Reduce fossil fuel use by 25%

Build all new buildings as zero-energy buildings or Living Buildings

DOCUMENTS:

Zeroing In: Making Your Buildings Net-Zero Energy
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Build all new buildings as zero-energy buildings or Living Buildings

Ensure all building renovations reduce energy use by 25%

DOCUMENTS:

Renovation Reductions: Making Existing Buildings More Energy Efficient
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Ensure all building renovations reduce energy use by 25%

Generate or purchase 100% renewable electricity

DOCUMENTS:

Buying Renewable Electricity: Leading the Green Power Movement by Example
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Generate or purchase 100% renewable electricity

Offset all carbon from heating

DOCUMENTS:

Purchasing Carbon Offsets: Accounting for Emitting
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Offset all carbon from heating

Food Service

Ensure 40% of food service menu selections are vegan or vegetarian

Make 10% of all food purchases within 100-mile radius of site

DOCUMENTS:

Local Food Purchases: Reducing Transportation Costs and Supporting Local Farmers
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Make 10% of all food purchases within 100-mile radius of site

Transportation

Offset carbon for all work-related staff travel

Make 25% of vehicle fleet electric (excluding tractors)

Incentivize employees to carpool, bike, bus or otherwise forgo single-occupant car transportation

DOCUMENTS:

Alternate Travel: Cutting Down on Single-Driver Commutes to Your Facility
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Incentivize employees to carpool, bike, bus or otherwise forgo single-occupant car transportation

Incentivize visitor sustainable travel

Waste

Eliminate all single-use plastic in food service, horticulture, gift shop, and all other facilities and operations

Compost 100% of food waste

DOCUMENTS:

Waste Not: Responsibly Disposing of All Food Waste and Nearly All Restaurant Products
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Compost 100% of food waste

Eliminate the sale and use of bottled water

Ensure any new constructions or renovations responsibly reduce and manage waste

Recycle or reuse all recyclable materials including metals, glass, and plastic

Water

Reduce use of municipal water by at least 25%

Reduce potable water for irrigation by at least 25%

Landscapes and Horticulture

Ensure 25% of all lawn/garden maintenance equipment is electric

Ensure 50% of pesticides and fertilizers used are fossil-free

Reduce lawn areas by 10% and encourage native plant replacements

Support reforestation to sequester carbon

Convert parking spaces into greenspaces to combat the rising temperature in cities

Reduce irrigation needs by selecting and supporting native plants

Investments

Divest from fossil fuel investments

DOCUMENTS:

Sustainable Investing: A Practical Guide for Museums (American Alliance of Museums)
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Divest from fossil fuel investments

Invest in socially responsible investments

DOCUMENTS:

Sustainable Investing: A Practical Guide for Museums (American Alliance of Museums)
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Invest in socially responsible investments

Visitors

Assist visitors in switching to household renewable energy

DOCUMENTS:

A Win-Win-Win: Getting Guests to Switch to Renewable Energy for Powering their Homes
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Assist visitors in switching to household renewable energy

Educate visitors on sustainable, fossil-free horticulture

DOCUMENTS:

Sustainable Horticulture: The Right Plants, the Right Places, the Right Practices
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Educate visitors on sustainable, fossil-free horticulture

Educate visitors on growing organic food

DOCUMENTS:

Growing Organic: Food That Is Good for You and the Planet
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Educate visitors on growing organic food

Educate visitors on the impacts of food choices and waste on climate change

DOCUMENTS:

Food Choices: Take a Bite Out of Climate Change
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Educate visitors on the impacts of food choices and waste on climate change

Teach facts and best practices to mitigate and reduce global climate change

DOCUMENTS:

Climate Action: The Time Is Now
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Teach facts and best practices to mitigate and reduce global climate change

Research

Conduct region-specific research related to climate change

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