Rep. Panetta Secures Federal Support for Monterey Bay Aquarium Carbon Emissions Initiative

Monterey, CA – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) secured over $600,000 in funding for a Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation initiative that will reduce carbon emissions nationwide. The $661,376 grant awarded to the Monterey Bay Aquarium will fund an initiative to create an industry wide standard and tool to reduce carbon emissions in the daily operations of zoos and aquariums.  This federal funding comes through the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Climate change continues to threaten the future of our planet and people everywhere.  For decades, our oceans have been affected the most by climate change absorbing more than 90% of the excess heat caused and nearly a third of the carbon dioxide generated by greenhouse gas emissions. With the federal funding granted to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the aquarium will research and implement various methods and tools that other zoos and aquariums can utilize to reduce the harmful impact of carbon emissions.

“Finding new ways to reduce our carbon output is vital to the preservation of vulnerable ecosystems including our treasured Monterey Bay,” said Rep. Panetta.  “The research conducted at Monterey Bay Aquarium will advance our knowledge about the impacts of carbon emissions and foster innovative strategies to combat the harmful effects of climate change.  Protecting natural habitats through sustainable practices is imperative to our collective efforts to ensure that our environment is alive and well for future generations.”

In partnership with the Aquarium Conservation Partnership, a coalition of U.S. aquariums, and expert advisors, Monterey Bay Aquarium will advance a collective conservation priority to combat the causes of climate change.  The grant will fund project activities including creating and testing a greenhouse gas inventory tool, developing toolkits for zoos and aquariums to use in creating messaging campaigns for public calls to action, and sharing the final greenhouse gas inventory tool along with staff training.

Participating zoos and aquariums will build staff capacity to assess and reduce carbon emissions; engage, inspire, and mobilize climate actions while sharing tools to benefit the aquarium, zoo, and museum community.

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