Energy

Fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and petroleum produced 80% of the energy used in 2020. Producing all of that energy released toxic air molecules, destroyed natural wildlife, and polluted waterways, forests and communities. In 2020 the United States released and emitted 1.4 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide. While there’s no denying that enormous amounts of energy are necessary to operate botanical gardens, museums and zoos, there are environmentally conscious options and opportunities to reduce our energy footprints that organizations should consider.

One such opportunity is for organizations to purchase or generate 100% renewable energy. The Climate Toolkit created goals to support and assist organizations as they address energy emissions within their own operations.

Click to read more about each goal and explore further resources. If you need more support, please email the Climate Toolkit at climatetoolkit@phipps.conservatory.org.

Resources:
Fossil Fuels, Explained
Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Electricity Generation

Energy goals of the Climate Toolkit:

Meet the Paris Climate Agreement targets for CO2 reduction OR reduce fossil fuel use by 25%.

The Paris Agreement is a global agreement to addresses climate change with a long-term goal of keeping the global average temperature to at least 2°C (3.6°F) below pre-industrial levels. In alignment with the Paris Agreement, the Climate Toolkit recommends that institutions set realistic goals to reduce fossil fuel usage and its associated emissions and make plans to accomplish those goals. This is a critical step to address climate change and diminish our carbon footprint. Click here to read more about the Paris Climate Agreement.