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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 and Project Drawdown
Drawdown EcoChallenge
April 4 - April 25, 2018
Vanessa Eljaiek's avatar

Vanessa Eljaiek

ETHS ECO2Sustainability

POINTS TOTAL

  • 0 TODAY
  • 0 THIS WEEK
  • 560 TOTAL

participant impact

  • UP TO
    2.0
    conversations
    with people
  • UP TO
    1.0
    documentary
    watched
  • UP TO
    1.0
    meatless or vegan meal
    consumed
  • UP TO
    275
    minutes
    spent learning
  • UP TO
    3.0
    public officials or leaders
    contacted

Vanessa's actions

Land Use

Forest-Friendly Foods 2

#5 Tropical Forests

I will replace or remove products in my current diet that are known to contribute to deforestation.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Transport

Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

#26 Electric Vehicles

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Wave and Tidal Energy

#29 Wave and Tidal

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of wave and tidal energy.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Use

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

#5 Tropical Forests

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Contact your Elected Officials

#23 Farmland Restoration

I will contact 1 elected officials to voice my opinion on the importance of restoring farmland in my region, including both public and private land.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Use Muscle Power

#49 Cars

I will cut my car trip mileage by only taking necessary trips, and I will only use muscle-powered transportation for all other trips.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

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

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Transport

Explore Other Transport Solutions

All Transport Solutions

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching other Drawdown Transport Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Share Bioplastic Disposal Tips

#47 Bioplastic

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching how to properly dispose of bioplastics in my city and share this information with 2 friends, family and/or colleagues.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

#11 Regenerative Agriculture

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about the need for more regenerative agriculture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Express My Support

#54 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

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

Learn about Temperate Forests

#12 Temperate Forests

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the environmental services provided by and the environmental issues affecting temperate forests.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Recycle Everything I Can

#55 Household Recycling

I will recycle all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Electricity Generation

Communicate With My Elected Officials

#2 Wind Turbines (Onshore)

I will write or call 1 elected official(s) telling them not to support fossil fuel subsidies and instead support wind energy generation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Explore Other Buildings and Cities Solutions

All Buildings and Cities Solutions

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching other Drawdown Buildings and Cities Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Research Heat Pumps

#42 Heat Pumps

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching heat pumps to see if installing one makes sense for my home/building.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Properly Dispose of Refrigerants

#1 Refrigerant Management

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning how to properly dispose of my refrigerator, freezer, and other refrigerants at the end of their useful lives.

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
    Buildings and Cities Research Heat Pumps
    Why do you care about taking action on climate change?
    Vanessa Eljaiek's avatar
    Vanessa Eljaiek 4/25/2018 7:37 AM
    The main reason is because our lives and future children/grandchildren's lives are at stake. My generation isn't even safe, and that scares me. Ever since I was little I always wondered why and how we ended up on this earth, and the fact that were gonna be the ones to end our own reign on this earth is just ironic. We claim to love our earth and our lives but we are the ones destroying it. I know it's difficult to change the lifestyle of millions of people to save our earth, but I'm pretty sure the cause is worth it. Everything is around money, the big corporations that need to change their ways most of all don't want to give up their status and their money to save the earth. People are selfish and its extremely unfair.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Land Use Forest-Friendly Foods 2
    How difficult or easy was it to change your diet?
    Vanessa Eljaiek's avatar
    Vanessa Eljaiek 4/25/2018 7:30 AM
    It was fairly easy, a lot easier than I thought it would be. I focused on switching our coffee and meat mainly because I saw that those were some of the big contributors to the degradation of our environment. Switching out coffee was easy because I also love green tea, but I don't drink it that often. I just switched out my usual latte at Starbucks for a simple sweetened green tea which I also find delicious. The meat part was a lot more difficult because I eat meat everyday, I have ever since I was little. So, I tried to just cut it out of one meal. Usually in the morning my aunt makes me eggs and bacon (on a day I'm not late) so I just switched out that for a simple oatmeal with strawberries or blueberries in it, which I also enjoy.
    Read More
  • REFLECTION QUESTION
    Food Reduce Animal Products
    What do you think contributes to people in North America eating more meat than other countries, and what does this say about North American values and ways of living? How do we start shifting a meat-focused food culture?
    Vanessa Eljaiek's avatar
    Vanessa Eljaiek 4/25/2018 7:26 AM
    I think our society is surrounded by the big meat corporations as a central source of food and things like fast food, where you find a lot of meat products, are a lot more popular and advertised. Meat corporations rule our country and the "American" way has been advertised as hamburger and fries for a long time now and that is now reflected in our society. I think we need to educate people on how much hard the meat business is doing to the environment by releasing greenhouse gases, and how poorly they are treating animals. I feel like if that is advertised as extremely as our hamburger-fries diet is, we may get the attention of those who care for our future and environment and change their ways.
    Read More