: The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG Kew) has announced a significant reduction in fossil fuel consumption and core carbon footprint, with the use of fossil fuels down by 22% and core emissions falling by 17% year-on-year, across both its botanic gardens, Kew Gardens in London and Kew Wakehurst in Sussex. This is a big step towards RBG Kew’s goal to become climate positive by 2030: reducing its core carbon footprint by 46% this decade, and balancing remaining emissions with high-quality carbon sinks.
The latest figures mark an important step in Kew’s longer-term decarbonisation journey. The reduction reflects progress across a range of areas, driven by several major decarbonisation projects delivered by Kew’s in house Capital Projects Team; expanded solar generation; and falling emissions of UK electricity and international travel. This significant reduction in emissions reflects Kew’s commitment to tackling climate change while safeguarding one of the world’s most important collections of plants and fungi.
Examples of initiatives that have supported these reductions include:
- A major project to decarbonise the heating system for the world’s largest surviving Victorian glasshouse, the Temperate House, avoiding gas use by installing air source heat pumps.
- Upgrading onsite fleet vehicles and equipment to electric versions, leading to a 40% reduction in horticultural fuel use across Kew Gardens and Wakehurst
- Significant decarbonisation at Wakehurst, replacing the inefficient oil boilers that heated the historic Elizabethan Mansion and surrounding buildings with electric heat pumps, halving direct heating emissions.
- 130KW of roof-mounted solar panels installed on Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst, generating 20% of the building’s total electricity usage, and 8% of the total site’s usage.
- New buildings built to sustainable standards with low carbon heating from electric air source heat pumps – including Kew’s Arboretum HQ and the Family Kitchen & Shop.
- Decarbonisation project replacing fossil fuel powered heating systems for the Jodrell laboratory, Melon Yard, and Nash conservatory at Kew Gardens with electric heat pumps.
Rachel Purdon, Head of Sustainability at RBG Kew said: “It is fantastic to see what happens when climate ambition is matched by action. Over a single year, Kew’s reliance on fossil fuels has reduced by 22%, cutting our core emissions by 17%. This marks a substantial step forward in our longer-term decarbonisation journey, reflecting significant investments, huge commitment from teams across the organisation, plus the impact of reductions in carbon intensity in external sectors. As the climate and extinction crises continue to threaten our world, we have a responsibility not only to advance world-leading science, but to demonstrate how organisations can reduce their environmental impact while helping to protect and restore nature for future generations.”
Kew has an ambitious target to become climate positive by 2030 for its core carbon footprint, with a science-based emissions reductions target, aligned with limiting global warming to 1.5°C.
To deliver this ambition, Kew has sought funding to support projects that reduce fossil fuel use, established site-wide strategies for energy, water and waste, and a recent review has identified that we are on track to achieve our science-based emissions reduction target for our core carbon footprint. At the same time, we are enhancing our sustainable procurement processes and seeking to work with suppliers to identify opportunities to reduce emissions through our supply chains.
Delivering these ambitions is uniquely challenging. Kew manages two internationally significant UK botanic gardens, Kew Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Wakehurst in Sussex. Across its UK operations, Kew cares for more than 27,000 species and varieties of plants and fungi within its living collections, while the Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst safeguards over 39,000 plant species. Together, the estates cover 349 hectares of biodiverse landscapes, including two conservation areas, and include more than 300 buildings and structures, 56 of which are listed.
The latest emissions reductions have been achieved while maintaining these globally significant collections, historic landscapes and scientific facilities, demonstrating that environmental stewardship and operational excellence can go hand in hand.
As Kew continues its journey towards becoming climate positive, it remains committed to reducing emissions, improving resource efficiency and working collaboratively with partners, suppliers and supporters to continue the transition to a more sustainable future.
While these results demonstrate what can be achieved through targeted investment, the journey ahead remains significant. Kew is grateful to the funders, donors and supporters who have helped make this progress possible, including the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, and Defra, whose investment has been instrumental in delivering significant decarbonisation projects. Future support from existing and new funding partners will be essential to delivering further progress towards our sustainability goals.
