Earth Month Ecochallenge: Drawdown

April 1 - April 30, 2021

Abigail Hamilton

Asheville High School Spring 2021!

"I would like to learn how to live a more sustainable lifestyle!"

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
172 TOTAL

Abigail's actions

Buildings

Learn about 'Green Gentrification'

Multiple Solutions

I will spend at least 90 minutes learning about green gentrification and how it relates to city planning for climate action.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More About Geothermal Energy

Geothermal Power

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Watch a Video about Methane Digesters

Methane Digesters

I will watch a video about methane digesters (also commonly known as anaerobic digesters).

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More about Biomass

Biomass Power

I will spend at least 23 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Learn about Temperate Forests

Temperate Forest Restoration

I will spend at least 16 minutes learning more about the environmental services provided by and the environmental issues affecting temperate forests.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Research Peatlands

Peatland Protection and Rewetting

I will spend 25 minutes researching the environmental benefits of peatlands and what is being done around the world to conserve and restore them.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

Tropical Forest Restoration

I will spend at least 20 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Learn More about Silvopasture

Silvopasture

I will spend at least 35 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Bioplastics

Bioplastics are a promising solution to plastic waste and climate change… but they aren’t necessarily sustainable. Find out why!

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 27 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Research Barriers to Participation and Representation

Health and Education

I will spend at least 27 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Learn about the Need for Family Planning

Health and Education

I will spend at least 38 minutes learning more about the need for family planning globally.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.

To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?

REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings Learn about 'Green Gentrification'

Cities and towns need to plan for climate change. How can your city or town make its climate action plans equitable and socially just?

Abigail Hamilton 5/07/2021 1:17 AM

Be more inclusive! We seem to target keeping the wealthy, white people happy, obviously, and that needs to change! North Asheville is very white and secluded. It is sort of it’s own little bubble of wealthy, Simply Southern wearing, white people.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Learn More About Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is reliable, abundant, and efficient. Project Drawdown states that public investment will play a crucial role in its expansion. In what ways (i.e. with money, time, advocacy) can you invest in geothermal energy?

Abigail Hamilton 5/04/2021 11:51 PM

I think that having a geothermal heat system is the most feasible for me. It would save money in the long run!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Watch a Video about Methane Digesters

What does your vision of a sustainable community look like? What would need to be changed in order for such vision to become reality?

Abigail Hamilton 5/03/2021 10:59 PM

My vision includes everyone composting, recycling (and having special places that recycle what can't be regularly recycled), eating more plant-based, and working together to slowly add things like solar panels to the community. In order for this vision to become a reality everyone needs to have sustainability as a priority, which seems far off.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Learn More about Biomass

Had you ever heard of biomass technology before you took this challenge? What did you learn that surprised you? Share your new knowledge with your friends!

Abigail Hamilton 5/03/2021 10:36 PM

I had never heard of biomass technology before, although it seems like something everyone should know about! What really surprised me was just the general concept of there being a solution to having to burn fossil fuels. I didn’t know that this existed and it is quite relieving.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry Bioplastics

What concerns you the most about how we are affecting the planet? Consider both local and global actions.

Abigail Hamilton 4/27/2021 11:38 PM

What concerns me the most is that people continue to put money and convenience over our planet. People don’t care enough to change small things in their life or worldwide, even if they are easy to fix.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks Learn about Temperate Forests

As you learn more about the scope and seriousness of the environmental challenges we face, what impact does that have on your thinking and actions? What are the parts that feel overwhelming? What parts help you feel hopeful?

Abigail Hamilton 4/27/2021 11:13 PM

- It makes me realize that even just as an individual, I can play a large role in helping the environment.
- It seems like I keep learning about issues I didn’t even know existed while I still am trying to process everything else that I have learned about the world falling apart.
- It helps make me feel better knowing that our world, although excruciating slowly, is slowly moving towards being greener, and we are all in it together.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks Research Peatlands

Much of Indonesia's peatlands have been drained so they could be replaced with palm oil or pulp and paper plantations. How can you make choices that help to protect peatlands, even if you live far away from one?

Abigail Hamilton 4/26/2021 7:26 AM

Things that you can do are advocate for laws that protect peatlands, eat whole foods and foods without palm oil, and reduce paper consumption.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks Forest-Friendly Foods 1

How is your diet currently impacting deforestation? What can you do to decrease your negative impact and increase your positive impact?

Abigail Hamilton 4/22/2021 10:16 PM

I eat a lot of palm oil, drink coffee, and eat chocolate which are most likely not brands that protect from deforestation. However, I am vegan and therefore, don’t eat meat, dairy, or eggs.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks Learn More about Silvopasture

Had you heard of the term "silvopasture" before now? After learning more about it, what do you think is the biggest advantage of silvopasture?

Abigail Hamilton 4/22/2021 9:01 PM

I hadn't heard of silvopasture until now, but it seems extremely beneficial. I think that the biggest advantage is counteracting the methane and carbon emission.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

How does knowing the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates empower you to make better decisions?

Abigail Hamilton 4/15/2021 7:16 PM

For the most part, I will probably ignore most of those dates from here on out. What matters most is if the product appears to be spoiled. Also, because I don’t eat dairy or meat, there is less of a risk of spoiled food making me sick.

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