The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), the global alliance of regional associations, national federations and institutions, has shared its insights into the CoP28, and has explored why the summit is important to the zoo and aquarium industry.
CoP28 took place from 30 November to 12 December 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). This was the 28th annual United Nations (UN) climate meeting to explore strategies to limit future climate change. It saw significant participation from governments in addition to civil society.
Continuing the work of the Paris Agreement in 2015, it was hoped that CoP28 would make further advances to enable countries to restrict long-term global temperature increases to 1.5C.
According to the UN’s climate body, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), this objective is critical for avoiding the most devastating effects of climate change. At current rates, the world is on course to warm by roughly 2.7C by 2100, with long-term warming currently estimated to be 1.1C to 1.2C above pre-industrial levels.
Resources for zoos & aquariums
WAZA says that its “members have the potential to play a crucial role in working towards the goal of arresting climate change and working towards the goal of reducing their emissions.”
The WAZA Guide on Reducing, Measuring, and Offsetting Carbon includes trailblazing examples of this approach, with case studies and a checklist of how zoos and aquariums might work to reduce their carbon footprint.
Loro Parque, the recipient of this year’s WAZA Environmental Sustainability Award, is a key example of the zoo and aquarium sector’s focus on sustainability. The organisation has prioritised lowering environmental impact, reducing waste and eliminating plastic, conserving water and energy, sourcing eco-friendly products, and implementing green energy.
In addition, WAZA has been working to advance sustainable practices within the zoo and aquarium sector through its publication of the WAZA Sustainability Strategy. This resource focuses on the UN Environment Programme’s Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action and supports the association’s members in reducing their carbon footprint and embracing more sustainable practices.Â
Climate & biodiversity
As a result of CoP28, almost 200 countries have reached an agreement which, for the first time, calls for all countries to transition away from fossil fuels in order to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. However, this agreement makes no express commitment to phase out or reduce the use of fossil fuels, which needs to be addressed in future CoPs, and so the planet remains far off course from the 1.5C limit.
A further accomplishment of the summit was the completion of the Global Stocktake, which assessed countries’ progress towards the Paris Agreement targets and the steps required to correct the course to fulfil them. This revealed that we remain well off track for achieving a 1.5C increase.
Climate change and biodiversity are inextricably intertwined. Ecosystems (and the biodiversity contained within them) are natural carbon sinks that provide nature-based solutions to climate change, while climate change adds an extra direct or indirect hazard to the survival of many species.
While CoP28 made greater efforts to address them together, WAZA reflects, more work is required.
The Association comments: “While tackling climate and biodiversity together can be challenging, zoos and aquariums can play several roles. For instance, zoos and aquariums incorporate SDG12: Responsible consumption and production, both through their own procurement and through visitor and surrounding communities’ programmes encouraging pro environmental behaviours.
“As we work towards achieving the WAZA vision of becoming a globally recognised and trusted leader in animal welfare and conservation, we endeavour to work do so in a manner that prioritises sustainability and the environment.”
Last month, The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), announced that it has extended the availability of PalmOil Scan to New Zealand and Australia. The extension was launched by the WAZA Palm Oil Subcommittee, together with member institutions Auckland Zoo representing New Zealand, and Zoos South Australia representing Australia.
