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Welcome to Drawdown EcoChallenge!

Watch the short video below to learn the basics.
You'll be an Drawdown EcoChallenge expert in no time!

EcoChallenge.org
Drawdown EcoChallenge
April 3 - April 24, 2019
Virginia Leary's avatar

Virginia Leary

WSP USA

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 988 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    1.0
    person
    helped
  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched
  • UP TO
    175
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    66
    meatless or vegan meals
    consumed
  • UP TO
    2.0
    donations
    made

Virginia's actions

Women and Girls

Help Girls Overcome Health Barriers

#6 Educating Girls

I will donate 1 Femme Kit(s) to help girls overcome health and sanitation barriers to being able to attend school.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Watch a Video about Methane Digesters

#30 Methane Digesters (large), #64 Methane Digesters (small)

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

#5 Tropical Forests

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Support Indigenous Peoples' Land Management

#39 Indigenous Peoples' Land Management

I will donate to The Nature Conservancy, which works with Indigenous Peoples to secure land tenure and resource rights, support improved governance and local institutions, assist in natural resource mapping, planning and management; and strengthen livelihoods and sustainable economic development.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Support Nutrient Management

#65 Nutrient Management

I will research and support local farmers who have made the decision to not use synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Research Cement Alternatives

#36 Alternative Cement

I will spend at least 10 minutes researching cement alternatives that reduce the carbon footprint of concrete.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More About Geothermal Energy

#18 Geothermal

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Learn about Temperate Forests

#12 Temperate Forests

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning more about the environmental services provided by and the environmental issues affecting temperate forests.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will enjoy 3 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Use

Research Peatlands

#13 Peatlands

I will spend 20 minutes researching the environmental benefits of peatlands and what is being done around the world to conserve and restore them.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Food

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn More about Silvopasture

#9 Silvopasture

I will spend at least 15 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Learn about the Need for Family Planning

#7 Family Planning

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the need for family planning globally.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Biomass

#34 Biomass

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Explore Other Food Solutions

All Food Solutions

I will spend at least 45 minutes researching other Drawdown Food Solutions.

COMPLETED
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
    Land Use
    Indigenous speaker and activist Winona LaDuke says that, "most indigenous ceremonies, if you look to their essence, are about the restoration of balance — they are a reaffirmation of our relationship to creation. That is our intent: to restore, and then to retain balance and honor our part in creation." Why is balance important to sustainability?
    Virginia Leary's avatar
    Virginia Leary 4/24/2019 1:54 PM
    We cannot take without restoring. So much of modern human life is about consuming without realizing harm, so we become disconnected from the earth. By restoring and balancing what we take and use, we are giving back to the land and thanking it for what it has given us, as opposed to taking and not replenishing 
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land Use
    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?
    Virginia Leary's avatar
    Virginia Leary 4/24/2019 1:49 PM
    Support companies that provide sustainable farming techniques. Support organizations working to protect these rich carbon storage lands. 
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Materials
    Concrete is a good example of a material that most of us encounter every day, but may its carbon footprint is not obvious. What other everyday materials might have a large carbon footprint? How can you find out more?
    Virginia Leary's avatar
    Virginia Leary 4/24/2019 1:48 PM
    Rubber could be one! Tires are used and discarded at probably alarming rates. I can look into how they are reclaimed. 
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Women and Girls
    What did you learn about the need for family planning? Share some of the learning with your friends!
    Virginia Leary's avatar
    Virginia Leary 4/24/2019 1:47 PM
    That we need to focus on teaching everyone about proper protection and allow women the CHOICE to have children. And focus on educating women and providing them the equal opportunities 
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food
    What did you find out? What is the most interesting fact you learned?
    Virginia Leary's avatar
    Virginia Leary 4/24/2019 1:21 PM
    I found out different online calculators you can use to find out your personal carbon footprint and water usage. it is great to check in and see how you are doing and what you can do to improve! 
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land Use
    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?
    Virginia Leary's avatar
    Virginia Leary 4/23/2019 2:34 PM
    I feel like i am always hyper aware of the issues we face, less than 12 years before we create irreversible damage. It is mind boggling and incredibly difficult to think about when we still have to go about our daily lives. All of it feels overwhelming, but i am hopeful that programs like this teach people new ideas, small habit changes, and ways to support organizations that are doing well. 
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food
    Had you heard of the term "silvopasture" before now? After learning more about it, what do you think is the biggest advantage of silvopasture?
    Virginia Leary's avatar
    Virginia Leary 4/22/2019 9:02 AM
    I learned about it last year for the first time! I think it provides an advantage to the livestock by providing a more natural and less stressful environment. It also provides a benefit to the farmers by allowing them to make a profit on three types of  items in the same space. it allows the them to be 3 times more profitable while providing a small circular environment for all involved.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land Use
    How is your diet currently impacting deforestation? What can you do to decrease your negative impact and increase your positive impact?
    Virginia Leary's avatar
    Virginia Leary 4/19/2019 11:46 AM
    Though i have been aware of this and do my best to choose products wisely, it is not always easy to avoid palm oil. I will continue to be picky about the companies i chose to support, and vet products i am considering to purchase. 
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Women and Girls
    In what other ways could you help girls overcome health barriers to being able to attend school?
    Virginia Leary's avatar
    Virginia Leary 4/19/2019 11:16 AM
    research and share about organizations that are helping supply feminine products in my own city and help volunteer. 
    Read More
  • Virginia Leary's avatar
    Virginia Leary 4/11/2019 2:06 PM
    We had an event today in the Buffalo office where we learned about topics together as a group on our lunch break. I choice three topics (food waste, geothermal energy, and alternative cement) and found videos on all three to share with people so we could all tackle points together! 
    Read More