For too long, climate change education has focused on the doom-and-gloom ways in which our environment and health will be affected in the future. The warnings are indeed dire: the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change report has provided urgent warnings about the state of our planet by 2040 if no action is taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, botanic gardens have a responsibility to lead and educate the public on human climate impacts. However, with one in five Americans "very worried" about climate change, and seven in 10 teenagers saying that climate change will harm their generation, we must shift to a solutions-based approach in our educational practices to inspire action and prevent apathy.

This session will focus on the work of Project Drawdown, a research organization that has identified the most realistic solutions to mitigate climate change. Drawdown prioritizes solutions and action, and provides many educational opportunities for botanic gardens. Panelists will discuss the ways in which they were inspired by and use Drawdown solutions in their educational programs, exhibits and signage, and outreach in the community. The session will include information about best practices for reframing climate change in an action-based framework.

Education and Communication Track Sponsor: