Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew has announced a reduction in fossil fuel consumption and core carbon footprint in a bid to be climate positive by 2030.

The gardens, both Kew Wakehurst and Kew Gardens in London, use of fossil fuels are down by 22%, with core emissions falling by 17% year-on-year.

The reduction reflects progress across a range of areas, explains Kew, which have been driven by several major decarbonisation projects delivered by Kew’s capital projects team.

Initiatives supporting the reduction 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 Kew, comments:

“It is fantastic to see what happens when climate ambition is matched by action. 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.”

As Kew continues its journey towards becoming climate positive, it says 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.