San Diego Botanic Garden

What unique situations and initiatives have you undertaken or do you plan to undertake to address climate change?

We are beginning educational programs focused on holistic, plant-based living.

What are the most pressing problems or opportunities in your community that can be leveraged to address climate change?

The largest problem we face is probably increased drought. We utilize highly efficient irrigation systems, as well as grey and purple water conspicuously so as to demonstrate these technologies to the public. It’s also amazing how important mulching is to retain soil moisture and reduce water use in our climate.

What unique features of your garden can be leveraged to address climate change?

We are fortunate to be in a very temperate, coastal climate. We aim to use as little heating and cooling energy as possible, which is facilitated by our mild climate.

What unique restraining forces do your institution or community face that prevent you from addressing climate change effectively? How can you steer this meeting of forces away from compromise and toward reconciliation and harmony?

One of these restraining forces is living in a suburban area not well served by public transportation and where car usage is incredibly high. We are actually joining forces with other nonprofits in our neighborhood to advocate for increases in public transportation services to our facility as well as non-fossil fuel based options, such as bike shares.