Fortuitous Alignment: The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Sustainable Development Goals

Carly R. Cowell, Leigh-Anne Bullough, Sonia Dhanda, Vicki Harrison Neves, Ed Ikin, Jessica Moore, Rachel Purdon, China Williams, Julia Willison and Sharon J. Willoughby
Additional contact information
Carly R. Cowell: Science Directorate, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, London TW9 3AE, UK
Leigh-Anne Bullough: Science Directorate, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, London TW9 3AE, UK
Sonia Dhanda: Science Directorate, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, London TW9 3AE, UK
Vicki Harrison Neves: Science Directorate, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, London TW9 3AE, UK
Ed Ikin: Science Directorate, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, London TW9 3AE, UK
Jessica Moore: Science Directorate, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, London TW9 3AE, UK
Rachel Purdon: Science Directorate, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, London TW9 3AE, UK
China Williams: Science Directorate, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, London TW9 3AE, UK
Julia Willison: Science Directorate, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, London TW9 3AE, UK
Sharon J. Willoughby: Science Directorate, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, London TW9 3AE, UK

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 4, 1-18

Abstract: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are aimed at improving human well-being at a global scale, whilst enhancing and preserving global biodiversity. Recently, botanic gardens worldwide have become more conservation focused, and gardens are increasingly influential in scientific roles that address both biodiversity loss and human well-being—particularly in urban areas. As the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (Kew) launched its new Manifesto for Change in 2021, this paper outlines how the organisation currently contributes to the SDGs and examines where the work of botanic gardens can have the biggest impact. This paper focuses on the use of policy engagement, education and outreach, and scientific research to document Kew’s contribution to the goals so far, both in the UK and elsewhere. The SDGs address high level global objectives, many of which are not directly relatable to the activities of a single organisation. Kew’s approach to this challenge is to seek out the intention of the Goals by interrogating their subsidiary Targets. We then translate the intention of any given SDG into actions that are meaningful to our specific practice. Many of RBG Kew’s existing projects and programmes address the SDGs and we are aligning our aims with them more closely still.

Keywords: biodiversity; climate change; nature-based solutions; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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