Verdis Group, a sustainability consulting firm that specialises in helping organisations integrate comprehensive climate action plans into their operations, has become a corporate member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).
The firm’s mission to co-create a vibrant and resilient world aligns with WAZA’s conservation and sustainability values. With this membership, the two organisations will work together to develop partnerships and deliver significant impact.
“WAZA members are cultivating a sustainable future for animals, people, and the planet,” says a representative from the firm. “They are asking the right questions to ensure we co-create a thriving and resilient world. We’re thrilled to join this community, to be a partner on the journey, and to be a catalyst for collective climate action. We’re better together.”
Collective impact
By joining WAZA, Verdis Group has become part of the international coalition of zoos, aquariums, national federations, and regional groups committed to the preservation and care of animals and their ecosystems worldwide.
WAZA aquariums and zoos are helping to create a more sustainable future where people, animals, and the planet’s health can flourish. Its 10-year Sustainability Strategy and recommendations on greenhouse gas emissions, forests, plastic, and palm oil highlight the worldwide community’s commitment to safeguarding the planet.
Verdis Group collaborates with 21 WAZA member zoos and aquariums in North America and has contributed to collective impact projects with the Aquarium Conservation Partnership (ACP) and members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). As such, the firm recognises the potential for further collective impact at WAZA.
“Creating industry-wide resources and tools can rapidly replicate successful sustainability efforts across the globe,” says the firm. “We’re thrilled to be joining this community and look forward to co-creating a thriving and resilient world by catalyzing climate action.”
See also: Building a sustainable future: the work of the Aquarium Conservation Partnership
WAZA conference
Verdis Group recently participated in the 79th Annual WAZA Conference, which took place at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia.
“One of the thought-provoking conversations asked us to consider how aquariums and zoos will evolve beyond 2050,” shares the firm. “How will their conservation efforts both address the immediate crisis of racing extinction and transform the root causes of species loss?”
It posits that one solution is the reintegration of nature, ourselves, and each other.
Dr Sarah Thomas, head of conservation advocacy and engagement at Auckland Zoo, spoke at the conference about the shift from traditional species conservation initiatives where humans are positioned as a means of saving species to a model which recognises all the connections that support human, animal, and planetary thriving for the long term. This approach, says Verdis Group, recognises that “saving species also means saving ourselves.”
Other key conference topics highlighted by the firm include:
- PalmOil Scan. In partnership with four zoos, WAZA launched a mobile app that helps consumers make sustainable choices and purchase from companies committed to Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO).
- ReShark. This international collective of over 100 organisations is working to reestablish the endangered zebra shark population.
- Security technology. Through enhanced security technologies, international collaborations are developing technology to counter the wildlife trade.
Earlier this year, SSA Group announced its new Climate Action Plan developed in collaboration with Verdis Group. This comprehensive strategy has been designed to lead SSA Group towards a sustainable future. It sets out its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, enhancing sustainability, and promoting resilience against the impacts of climate change.
