Earth Month Ecochallenge: Drawdown

April 1 - April 30, 2021

Cristina Guido

ecoCaledon

"Caledon GHG reduction target of net zero emissions by 2050 "

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
285 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

7.0

public officials or leaders

contacted
UP TO

1.0

meatless or vegan meal

consumed
UP TO

60

minutes

spent learning

Cristina's actions

Land Sinks

plawking for a greener outside space

"plawking" is the trend that brings together walking and litter picking.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity

Calculate My Carbon Footprint

All Drawdown Solutions

I will calculate the greenhouse gas emissions associated with my household and consider how different lifestyle choices could reduce my negative impact on the environment.

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 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Action Track: Accelerating Solutions

Advocate For Greener Vehicles

Electric Cars, Hybrid Cars, Efficient Trucks

I will assess the vehicles used by my company or college and advocate for a purchasing policy focused on electric and fuel-efficient vehicles

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Accelerating Solutions

Conduct Virtual Meetings

Telepresence

I will encourage my office to hold meetings virtually whenever possible instead of requiring travel.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Climate Resilience

Support a Community Garden

Multiple Solutions

I will support a community garden by volunteering, donating, or advocating for a new or existing one.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Accelerating Solutions

Express My Support For Equitable Biking Infrastructure

Bicycle Infrastructure

I will find out who in my city makes decisions that impact bike routes and express my support for better biking infrastructure.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Reduce Animal Products

Plant-Rich Diets

I will enjoy 1 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY 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 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Buildings

Online Energy Audit

Multiple Solutions

I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 60 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Action Track: Climate Resilience

Express My Support For Walkable Cities

Walkable Cities

I will find out who in my city makes decisions that impact neighborhood walkability and express my support for better walking infrastructure.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

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?
Cristina Guido 4/27/2021 9:29 AM
Meat not only impacts the planet but human health. I've significantly decreased my red meat intake and eat mostly chicken. I would like to pursue a "reduce-a-tarian" diet that incorporates more vegetarian meals. I look forward to future programming from EcoCaledon on this initiative!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Climate Resilience

How could better walking infrastructure make your city both more enjoyable and more equitable?
Cristina Guido 4/27/2021 9:27 AM
We received 2021 budget approval to develop a Town-wide Green Development Standard that will help to make new residential developments "complete" and walkable and bike-friendly.

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- Solveig Christina Voss 4/27/2021 10:40 AM
  That's great! However, the main concern with biking instead of taking the car to get errands done revolves around unsafe highways that connect (rural) residential areas with places of interest (i.e., Bolton South, Caledon East etc.). It'd be awesome if safe bike lanes could be added to major roads that would allow us to get quickly from A to B by bike. Roads like Highway 50 and Highway 9 are dangerous bike routes although they would help bikers to get around more efficiently.
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Accelerating Solutions

What do you like most about biking in your city? What would you like to improve?
Cristina Guido 4/27/2021 9:27 AM
I'd like to continue to expand bike friendly routes in Caledon and explore the potential for more painted bike symbols on Town roads

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

How does knowing the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates empower you to make better decisions?
Cristina Guido 4/27/2021 9:26 AM
Listened into EcoCaledon's presentation on food waste during Earth Week. I will print off the PDF guide on best before dates and have it on my fridge - idea! Lu - would you be interested in making the PDF guide a magnet that we could mail to residents?

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- Lucrezia Chiappetta 4/27/2021 10:11 AM
  Hey Cristina! It is definitely great info to share...Will see how we can make it fit to a magnet size :)
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Climate Resilience

What are the multiple benefits of community gardens, including carbon sequestration? Why do these benefits matter to you?
Cristina Guido 4/22/2021 7:14 PM
Community gardens and local food is very important to reducing Caledon's GHG footprint. I'm happy to be coordinating meetings between residents, local community groups, and our conservation authorities to coordinate where we can plant more gardens across Caledon and working with our Parks team to see if local parks can be a host site for these gardens.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Accelerating Solutions

How can you ensure that your virtual meetings honor your values and your company's culture?
Cristina Guido 4/22/2021 7:12 PM
We've been conducting meetings virtually since last March. I hope it is a practice we will continue when we eventually go back to the office, especially for meetings that are far to reduce our driving emissions.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Action Track: Accelerating Solutions

How does advocating for green vehicles in your community connect to your values? How might you be able to get others involved in advocating for the shift to fuel-efficient vehicles?
Cristina Guido 4/22/2021 7:11 PM
We organized an Earth Week webinar on electric vehicles and had 25 registrants sign up to learn more. I think some of the best ways to educate on electric vehicles is by hearing from other EV owners. Hoping we'll be able to host EV test drives next summer!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity

What stood out to you most about your carbon footprint? What surprised you or sparked curiosity? Where can you take most immediate action?
Cristina Guido 4/18/2021 4:45 PM
My carbon footprint was much larger than I would have wanted it to be. My biggest opportunity to reduce my footprint is my food choices. I will work on reducing my meat intake and learning more vegetarian options that my household will like.

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- Lucrezia Chiappetta 4/19/2021 7:38 AM
  Our food choices definitely make a big impact on our carbon footprints...just look at differences in resources required to make one beef burger over one veggie burger. Luckily, it is a lot easier now to incorporate more plant-rich foods into our daily meals. Between the options available in stores and restaurants to the abundance of recipes. Let me know what kinds of meals you'd like to try and I'm sure I have a recipe that your family will enjoy ;)
  
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Cristina Guido 3/31/2021 4:15 PM
Excited to start the EcoChallenge!

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