Operationalising Sustainability in Zoos and Aquaria

This public science article is written for the World Association of Zoos and Aquaria (WAZA) magazine, based on the recently published scientific paper by Evans & Achiam, (2021). The majority of readers of the magazine are science enthusiasts/non-scientists with an interest in zoos, aquaria and biodiversity conservation. Globally, WAZA members include over 400 institutions and organisations, while over 700 million people visit zoos and aquaria annually.

The article looks at the question of what does sustainability actually look like in science education in zoos and aquaria. The disseminated research looks across sustainability science, policy and practice, to formulate unique potentials offered by zoos and aquaria for sustainability education. In 2020, WAZA released it's Sustainability Strategy for up to 2030, formed of recommendations for members in how to engage with global sustainability challenges (externally and internally), based on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The article finishes by discussing (and illustrating) some unique potentials of sustainability education in zoos and aquaria, using examples from a sustainability focused school programme at Copenhagen Zoo.