Life on earth is in crisis. Actions such as burning fossil fuels and clearing wildland have released greenhouse gases, disrupting natural climate patterns. In a vicious cycle, damaged ecosystems are less able to absorb emissions and mitigate the worst consequences of climate change. The next decade will be critical for reversing this environmental devastation. When it comes to tackling the climate emergency, building understanding is the first step in empowering people to take action for nature.

The Carbon Garden, a new, permanent garden at Kew, will engage the public with nature’s extraordinary capacity to capture carbon. As a global research institution, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the UK’s most popular public spaces, we have a unique position to communicate complex science to millions of people. Our Carbon Garden will explore the role of carbon in today’s world and encourage the public to take positive action for nature through a programme of learning and outreach.