AZA Members Take the Lead

Failing to prepare for climate-related challenges is a recipe for disaster, prompting forward-thinking Association of Zoos and Aquariums members and partner organizations to step up and address current and future risks. Their array of strategies ranges from pursuing net zero goals (reducing or eliminating all greenhouse gases) to supporting the next generation of individuals who will seek and implement solutions.

Whether working independently or in collaboration with colleagues, vendors, and other facilities; these leaders are demonstrating initiative and resourcefulness that set a worthwhile example for the entire AZA community to follow.

Individual Efforts

The Toronto Zoo in Toronto, Ontario, published its new Net Zero Environmental Sustainability Plan in 2022, said Kyla Greenham, manager of conservation programs and environment at the Zoo. “Our previous plan dealt with reductions in wastewater and emissions; and the current plan is more specific and aggressive. With all of the conservation programs we have, climate change adds a complexity that will impact our ability to protect animals and habitats as much as we can. We’re trying to achieve a net zero goal in several resource areas by 2030.” 

They have created floating wetlands in 13 of the Zoo’s stormwater management ponds, planting them with vegetation that increases biodiversity, provides habitats, and cleans the water. The Zoo was also the first location to implement the Royal Canadian Geographic Society’s Network of Nature―a series of mini forests created by densely planting native trees in urban areas. “This increases biodiversity in those areas, and creates connectivity with natural forest space,” said Greenham.

The Zoo’s fleet of vehicles is already 46 percent electric; and as they continue that conversion from gas, they are also researching an electric garbage truck and zoomobile, and are looking into a company that is developing an electric backhoe.

With regard to water usage, they are adding filtration systems to animal pools; installing rainwater systems; and planning to devote increased resources to water quality-related projects in their conservation programs in other locations.

Having already achieved 78 percent of materials being diverted from landfill, Greenham said they are trying to reach 95 percent through a variety of strategies. These include dismantling and selling old pumps and filters to metal recyclers; working with suppliers that do take-back packaging programs; and repurposing Coca-Cola syrup barrels into enrichment objects for animals.

The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden in Cincinnati, Ohio, is also moving toward a net zero goal, which they hope to achieve in 2025, their 150th anniversary. 

“The most important and impactful step we can take in lowering our footprint on this Earth―and the people, animals, and plants that depend on it―is by dramatically reducing our use of natural resources in our own backyard,” said Mark Fisher, vice president, facility, planning, and sustainability. “As a conservation-based organization, this is absolutely critical in terms of living our mission.” 

According to Stephenie Ritchey, director of sustainability at the Zoo, even before adding their first 400,000-gallon rainwater collection system in 2013, they were able to decrease their water usage by 60 to 80 percent over three years simply by fixing water leaks. In 2020, they added a 50,000-gallon rainwater collection area in Roo Valley, an exhibit that is located in a certified LEED v4 Platinum building. And they are currently installing a million-gallon collection area in the Elephant Trek Exhibit, where the water will be pumped back for non-potable uses and water features in the exhibit. 

With regard to energy, Ritchey said, “In 2011 we installed a 1.56 MW solar array as a canopy over a parking lot; and we’re currently developing a campus microgrid with an additional 2 MW solar array parking canopy and a 1.5 MW battery energy storage system. We’re also partnering with a solar developer for a 25 MW array on our property at Bowyer Farm.

Other sustainability projects on Bowyer Farm include restoring prairie and wetland habitats; creating a plant nursery that supplies Zoo landscapes and restoration projects; planting trees for browse; and farming hay and straw for their animals.

Beneficial Partnerships

In April 2020, the 26 members of the Aquarium Conservation Partnership (ACP) announced a joint climate commitment, with a longterm goal of achieving carbon neutrality (reducing CO2 emissions). 

“We developed the Joint Plastic Commitment in 2016, and following that model showed we could work together to collect and share knowledge,” said Kim McIntyre, director of the ACP. With the help of the Verdis Group, consultants who facilitate sustainability and climate resiliency planning and an AZA commercial member, each member will complete a greenhouse gas inventory, develop an emissions reduction plan, and determine a timeline for completing the plan. Every year, the group plans to:

• Measure and report greenhouse gas emissions.
• Identify, share, and implement strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from operations; and remove greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere.
• Support strong nature-based solutions in international, federal, and state climate change policies.
• Communicate the journey to achieve carbon neutrality with audiences.

Working together has several advantages, according to McIntyre. “Over the years we’ve built trust across our membership and shared resources and knowledge. And also, let’s say one institution has a conservative board and tells them, ‘We want to be carbon neutral.’ Or they say, ‘We’re joining with 25 other aquariums across the nation to become carbon neutral.’ There’s strength in numbers in making the case.”

She adds that the ACP institutions have an obligation to be visible leaders in this effort. “We have the responsibility like never before. As AZA members, we’re uniquely positioned to inspire our audiences by walking the talk. If we can do it, anybody can do it. As early adopters in climate change education, the public trusts us. “With the historic passage of the biggest climate change legislation in our history, there’s funding for programs to support our institutions. ACP is helping AZA members by getting this information out.”

In a different type of partnership, the SSA Group, a retail and culinary service provider and member of AZA’s Commercial Member Engagement Council, has engaged the Verdis Group to help strengthen their own sustainability plan, and ultimately, help them guide the AZA institutions they work with. 

“Sustainability has been a core pillar in our strategic plan for a long time, but we needed to support that even more than we had been,” said Andrew Fischer, vice president of sustainability and conservation at  SSA Group. “We want to do right within our own organization and with our partners … It’s important to them and their guests.”

“SSA has partners in many different regions and wanted to know what climate-related concerns they would see and how ready their partner organizations are to deal with them,” said Wayne Warrington, senior associate at the Verdis Group, and a member of AZA’s Green Scientific Advisory Group.

While working with SSA on their own plan, Warrington also conducted a climate impact assessment in five regions: the southwest, the southern great plains, the southeast, the midwest, and the northeast. He talked with AZA staff in those areas, showing them the data of climate impacts that are coming, and talking about the changes they’ve made or haven’t made and the risks they could face.”

“The assessment gives SSA a regional understanding,” said Warrington. “For example, they could say to a partner, ‘Your region is set to experience coastal flooding at a rate two times the global rate. There is a high risk you may be closed a quarter of the year.’ This information will help them navigate and negotiate with their partners.” 

Supporting New Leaders

A critical aspect of combatting climate change is ensuring support for the changemakers whose passion and ideas put them on the forefront of this important work. To that end, New England Aquarium in Boston, Mass., has entered into a collaboration with SeaAhead, an organization that supports bluetech ventures. The result is Blueswell, a comprehensive, early-stage incubator designed to support entrepreneurs whose ideas have the potential to significantly impact ocean sustainability and global resilience.

“When we met, SeaAhead was trying to establish a hub in Boston to help catalyze the growth of the innovation sector related to the ocean,” said Dr. John W. Mandelman, vice president and chief scientist at the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium. “We wanted to solidify our role as the ocean conservation advisor to the growing blue tech sector. [The partnership] was a match made with very complementary skill sets and goals.”

Companies/individuals must apply to the Blueswell program, which has room for eight per cohort. The third cohort is currently going through the program. Each participant receives $50,000 (increased from $35,000 when Blueswell started); and is enrolled in a five-month program that includes workshops, mentorship opportunities, stakeholder connections, site visits, and peer interaction with current participants and alumni of the program. In addition to learning about business models, metrics for success, product development, legal issues, marketing, branding, and fundraising, participants have the opportunity to practice their pitch and case for support. 

“We’re selecting the companies that have the most potential for success, and the program is meant to help increase that probability of success,” said Mandelman. “Collectively, our companies have raised more than $16 million in capital to continue to catalyze their ventures. We take pride in the fact that we played a role.” 

We are already feeling the effects of climate change, and one way to survive and thrive is to deal with them aggressively and immediately. We are fortunate that there are myriad ways to address climate impacts through mitigation and adaptation, but we will pay the price if we don’t make them a priority.

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