Earth Month Ecochallenge: Drawdown

April 1 - April 30, 2021

Emma Stewart

York Girls Volleyball

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
291 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

3.0

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

100

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

10

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

3.0

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill

Emma 's actions

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 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.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Choose Recycled Paper

Recycled Paper

I will plan ahead to only use paper products made from post-consumer recycled paper for my home or office.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Reduce Single-Use Disposables

Bioplastics

Cheap, single-use items and disposable packaging end up blowing around as litter more often in poor and BIPOC-majority neighborhoods. I will avoid buying and using 6 single-use plastics and instead replace them with durable options.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Buildings

Install A Toilet Tank Bank

Low-Flow Fixtures

I will reduce the amount of water flushed and save up to 11 gallons (41 L) of water a day or 330 gallons (1,230 L) a month by installing a toilet tank bank.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Climate Resilience

Learn about 'Green Gentrification'

Multiple Solutions

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about green gentrification and how it relates to city planning for climate action.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Climate Resilience

Tend A Garden

I will tend to a garden, or prepare for one, each day using sustainable gardening practices.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Action Track: Accelerating Solutions

Support Businesses Owned by Women, BIPOC, or Immigrants

Sustainable Intensification for Smallholders

I will spend 30 minutes researching businesses owned by women, immigrants, and Black, Indigenous, and people of color that I can support when shopping.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Accelerating Solutions

Advocate for Forest Protection

Forest Protection

I will contact 2 congress people or representatives to advocate for public policy that protects forests and the enforcement of existing anti-logging laws, as well as the rights of local people to protect and restore the land in their communities.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Accelerating Solutions

Research and Advocate for High-Speed Rail

High-Speed Rail

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching and advocating for a comprehensive high speed rail network in my country/region.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Smaller Portions

Reduced Food Waste

I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.

COMPLETED 3
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Reduce Animal Products

Plant-Rich Diets

I will enjoy 2 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 2
DAILY ACTIONS

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
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?

Emma Stewart 4/22/2021 8:48 AM

You can always donate money to Project Drawdown, email congress members about utilizing more geothermal sources, and spread awareness about geothermal energy.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry Reduce Single-Use Disposables

What single-use items (e.g. straws, coffee cups, vegetable bags, plastic bags) do you regularly use? What could be substituted instead?

Emma Stewart 4/21/2021 9:26 PM

I usually use plastic bags the most, but my family has a bought more reusable containers which I have been using a lot more. I could also use wax paper as a substitute.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Reduce Animal Products

Why do people in richer countries eat more meat than people in other places? How does eating more meat affect our bodies, our planet, and other people?

Emma Stewart 4/21/2021 9:23 PM

Meat tends to be more expensive, especially high-quality meat, so it is easier for higher class people to have access to it, compared to the lower and working class. Eating more meat can be beneficial, but eating too much meat can lead to issues. Globally, the meat and dairy industry contributes around 14% of greenhouse gas emissions which definitely can harm the environment.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Climate Resilience 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?

Emma Stewart 4/21/2021 9:19 PM

We could definitely plant more trees, especially since we have space for it. We could also work on creating more community gardens where everyone can pitch in and help grow vegetables and fruits.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Smaller Portions

While dishing food out, we tend to load our plates with more than we need. Using smaller plates helps to mitigate this. Aside from the environmental benefits, what other benefits might come from eating/serving smaller portions?

Emma Stewart 4/19/2021 8:52 AM

Another benefit that comes from eating smaller portions is having a healthier diet. A lot of times when I get bigger servings, I feel pressured to finish it all even if I am full because I don't want to waste any food. It also encourages me to choose healthier options because I know I will gain more benefits in a small portion of healthy food.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Accelerating Solutions Support Businesses Owned by Women, BIPOC, or Immigrants

Globally, women typically invest a higher proportion of their earnings in their families and communities than men. What have you done in the past to support women-owned businesses? How can you better support communities by supporting women?

Emma Stewart 4/19/2021 8:49 AM

In the past, I have frequently shopped on Etsy to find women-owned businesses to buy their products. I can better support women by boosting their platform and continuing to buy their products.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Accelerating Solutions Research and Advocate for High-Speed Rail

What are the factors that influence your choice of transportation? These can include things like money, time, and convenience, as well as perceptions of danger or safety. What would need to change for you to regularly choose more climate-friendly options?

Emma Stewart 4/12/2021 7:28 AM

The factors that influence my choice of transportation would be my age, my family, and the places I have to go to. Since I am unable to drive, I usually rely on my parents to drive me wherever I might need to go, especially since this is the easiest choice for me and my family. A lot of the places I go, for example: practice, tournaments, or just going somewhere for fun, require a car to get to, and using a car is the easiest option. I definitely want to start riding my bike and using the train more, especially since it is a lot better for the environment, but the reason I usually drive to most places is just due to convenience.

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