Will Knight

Again, just like the other reflection. during my time in DC I went walking for a significant period each day. 

With the traveling I did complete over the break, I did have to use uber/lyft. Every time, I budgeted a bit more time than expected and selected a shared ride/carpool. Each time I was in fact paired with other strangers, and we effectively carpooled.

During my Political Science course first semester, we did a drawdown research project where we had to research three solutions and write a reflection on them. This is what I wrote way back then:

More an aversion strategy of emissions than a solution, the goal is to preserve peatlands to evade the release of Carbon Dioxide. Peatlands are a boggy ecosystem that holds large amounts of carbon; if exposed to oxygen or damaged, they become a “greenhouse chimney” if disrupted. Peatlands are used as a storage of biomass, as peat is an energy-rich mass that has been used for warmth and heating. However, if the peatlands are damaged, as they have been through recent cultivation methods, they emit greenhouse gasses, namely CO2. Project drawdown proposes to stop the destruction of wetlands by limiting human interaction and forest fires: The forest fires dry up the peatlands which release CO2. Project Drawdown also suggests companies or people using peat as a heat source should switch to sustainable options to further preserve the carbon sink of peatlands. It is estimated that Carbon Dioxide emissions will reduce roughly 21.57 gigatons by 2050. Though the rate of CO2 production can be estimated, the price needed to shift to sustainable heat and preserve peatlands is too variable to yet be estimated. Companies using Peat as a heat source as expected to implement this solution, yet governments with peatlands inside their territory could be expected to take legislative action to protect the lands. To implement this strategy, it is expected that companies would have to switch to alternative methods of heating or energy, which would also have to be sustainable. Governments, especially the Irish as over 17% of Irish land is covered by peatlands, could actively suppress the destruction of peatlands by implementing federal protection strategies. Though there is a history of local’s using peat as heat sources, there wouldn’t be much sacrificed culturally to switch to alternate heating methods. Though there isn’t much I can do currently, if a bill or law is ever promoted inside the United States that pushed for the protection of wetlands or bogs, I would certainly support it and become active in it’s passing. 

This break, I made a conscious effort to avoid buying non-recyclable goods. Especially during my time at airports, I made sure to check the products packaging prior to purchase in an effort to buy smarter and recyclable goods.

During my time in DC, I averaged a walking distance of 6.8 miles over 4 days. Because I didn't have a car and neither did my cousin, we walked and comuted everywhere. I'm feeling lighter already!