Ecochallenge.org

Drawdown Ecochallenge

Luca G Furino

SiA 2024

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
341 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

30

minutes

being mindful
UP TO

50

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

150

minutes

spent learning

Luca G's actions

Electricity

Learn More about Biomass

Biomass Power

I will spend at least 45 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More about Micro Wind

Micro Wind Turbines

I will spend at least 45 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of micro wind.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Practice the 5 Rs

Recycling

I will practice the "5 Rs" — refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle — to reduce my waste more than I can with just recycling alone.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Land Sinks

Forest-Friendly Foods 2

Tropical Forest Restoration

I will replace or remove the palm oil, coffee, and cocoa products in my current diet that are known to contribute to deforestation.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Transportation

Go for a Daily Walk

Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 45 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Transportation

Research and Advocate for High-Speed Rail

High-Speed Rail

I will spend at least 45 minutes researching and advocating for a comprehensive high speed rail network in my country/region.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

Tropical Forest Restoration

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, Agriculture, and Land Use

Eat Mindfully

Reduced Food Waste

I will eat all of my meals without distractions, e.g., phone, computer, TV, or newspaper.

COMPLETED 1
DAILY ACTION

Industry

Learn About & Practice Sustainable Fashion

Multiple Industry Solutions

I will learn about sustainable fashion and begin practicing it in my own life.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Share Your Story

READ Quebec's principles for a just transition AND/OR PARTICIPATE in the Sept 27 Climate March

For the week of Sept 25 to Oct 2, please read the documents attached AND IF YOU CAN, please attend the Sept 27 Climate March. Many people and organisations feel that the government is dragging its feet on the important changes required to meet our climate commitments. For your post, reflect on the value of mass demonstrations. Include a photo of a protest banner or slogan that you find effective (if you can't attend the event then find a photo on the web from other climate marches).

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

Conservation Agriculture, Regenerative Annual Cropping

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

UNCOMPLETED
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?

Luca G Furino 11/13/2024 10:20 AM

Final Post:

With the conclusion of my Eco-Challenges comes the time to reflect upon them. I did not find them to be too overbearing or difficult. I specifically chose challenges that would not infringe upon my day-to-day life too much, as I know that I would be too discouraged or outright unable to complete them, so selecting relatively tame challenges was a decision made with much deliberation.

I would like to think that my efforts made some form of an impact. It is a fundamental when just beginning to partake in environmentally friendly practices that you understand your actions will not seem all that impactful by themselves. It is when looking at the whole image that you begin to really appreciate the work you have put in alongside the work of others. Holistically speaking, yes, I like to think that I made some positive change.

I undertook all of these actions by myself and did not include others. Even though I am a dependent of my parents, because I chose smaller and realistically accomplishable challenges I had no problem pursuing them without the assistance or participation of others. There is a possibility that I would have enjoyed my time doing these challenges more if I had done them alongside another, but my solitude suits me just fine.

Would I continue these challenges in the future? It is a bit difficult to say… On one hand I would like to proclaim with certainty that I will diligently continue these challenges even after having taken this course. But honestly, I am likely to get lazy sooner rather than later and revert back to my old habits. Even though these changes are small, they get tiresome and make the alternative of not doing them at all quite attractive. So, my honest answer is no, I am unlikely to continue doing MOST of these challenges.

A world without fossil fuels is difficult to envision. We have become so reliant on them that to have them completely removed from our society poses many consequences that I cannot possibly predict. But generally speaking, the environment would be a lot better off. That is the main force driving us to ditch fossil fuels in the first place. Although we will expend all of our fossil fuels eventually, the sooner we can be rid of them the sooner we can begin to recuperate the damage that we have done to the planet because of our carelessness, and if we do not, well… It is mostly deserved that we face the consequences of our actions, as cynical as that may sound. Negatively speaking, I think everything would work a lot less efficiently. Electric cars and appliances are not as efficient as their gas powered counterparts. Electrical grids and networks are known to go offline during harsh weather conditions, and depending on the scale of the outage, it can greatly affect the day-to-day operations of our society. But in short, I think that until we further develop sustainable and efficient alternatives, transitioning away from fossil fuels will be a gradual and challenging process. We need advancements in renewable energy technologies, better energy storage solutions, and more resilient infrastructure to ensure that we aren't simply swapping one set of problems for another.

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Luca G Furino 11/13/2024 9:24 AM

Week 13 Sustainability Action:

For my final Eco-Challenge of the semester, I spent time researching something that I believe is very practical and should become a more commonplace method of transport in North America, high-speed rail lines. High-speed rail lines are a proven, efficient, and environmentally friendly mode of transportation that have been successfully implemented in countries like Japan, France, and China. These systems can travel at speeds of over 200 miles per hour, drastically reducing travel time between cities and alleviating congestion on highways and at airports. High-speed rail not only offers a faster, more comfortable travel experience, but it also helps to reduce carbon emissions by providing an alternative to air and car travel. Despite the clear benefits, North America has been slow to adopt such systems, primarily due to political, financial, and infrastructural barriers. However, with increasing concerns about climate change and traffic-related inefficiencies, the case for high-speed rail is becoming more compelling, especially as advancements in technology continue to drive down costs and improve sustainability. There will also come a time when we may be forced to implement this method of travel, as population numbers continue to rise and our roads will only continue to become more rampant with traffic and automobile-related incidents. High-speed rail lines and any other rail lines, be they above or below ground, are the most optimal solutions available when finding remedies for problems like eco-friendly navigation in an urban environment and international/provincial travel. This is a realistic solution to a problem that will only increase in significance as time goes on. Addressing it now, and implementing this change sooner rather than later when it may be harder to facilitate, should be a top priority for our governments and public transportation agencies.

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Luca G Furino 11/06/2024 10:00 AM

Week 12 Sustainability Action:

This week, I dedicated some time to learning more about sustainable agricultural practices. In particular, the concept of regenerative agriculture.What differentiates this from traditional forms of farming, is their prioritization. Unlike conventional farming, which often focuses on maximizing short-term yields through intensive practices that can deplete soil and harm the environment, regenerative agriculture seeks to create systems that improve the land's vitality over time, sequester carbon, increase water retention, and promote biodiversity.This approach takes into account the long-term ramifications of agriculture that are not necessarily made a point of focus in most common agricultural practices. The significant benefits being the restoration in soil fertility, a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and improvement in water management and biodiversity.
Of course this is not the most practical solution given the limitations that present themselves. The knowledge and training required to implement this regenerative agriculture is not easy to access, especially considering most contemporary farmers are skilled in non-regenerative agricultural practices. There is also the change in market, as the food market would shift unpredictably, at least to an uneducated fellow like myself, in the face of such regenerative products.

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Luca G Furino 10/30/2024 9:38 AM

Week 11 Sustainability Action:

In many ways, this week’s Eco-Challenge post is an extension of last week’s. Last week, I shared my experience eliminating food products from my diet that are known to contribute to deforestation; primarily, palm-oil. This week, I did a little more research learning about how my current diet, overall, contributes to deforestation. Understanding the impact that your diet has on the environment is something important to take into account when considering a greener lifestyle. Anyone can plant a tree or recycle more often, compost or make an effort to learn about different sustainable types of energy. But it is the challenges that require a habitual change and discipline that are a true test to one’s character. In this context, it is understanding the consequences of your diet and what you intend to do about it.

The two main food products in my diet that contribute to deforestation are soy, and palm-oil. Palm-oil not as much anymore since I have been making an effort to drastically reduce its inclusion in my diet since starting these Eco-Challenges, but soy is the biggest one. Specifically, it is not the direct ingestion of soy, but rather, it is fed to the livestock whose products I then consume. Many large deforestation projects can be attributed to the production of livestock feed, and soy especially. According to the One Green Planet Organization, an estimated 33 percent of land globally is dedicated to livestock feed. Furthermore, the current area of land devoted to soy production is the same size as France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands combined. This is quite worrying, especially considering that the demand for food will keep increasing as the planet’s population only gets bigger, exacerbating this problem.
So, what can realistically be done? Well, not all that much. You cannot expect people to all go green and cease their consumption of meat altogether just in an effort to reduce the need for soy production. The most that can be done is to make this information more widespread. Inform more people on how their diet contributes to deforestation, and hopefully inspire them enough to make some changes in their eating habits. Or, maybe I’m just thinking too pessimistically.

Link to the website that was used when researching for this Eco-Challenge: https://www.onegreenplanet.org/environment/foods-that-are-eating-the-worlds-forests-and-how-to-choose-better/

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Luca G Furino 10/23/2024 10:03 AM

Week 10 Sustainability Action:

Alongside carrying out other Eco-Challenges I have made an effort to eliminate palm-oil products from my diet. Admittedly, while I did initially undertake this challenge with the goal of reducing my diet’s contribution to deforestation, I stuck with it as it was undeniably healthy for me. For context, the challenge states the removal of coffee, palm-oil, and cocoa products from your diet. I do not drink coffee, and a very small part of my diet uses cocoa; therefore, the only real challenge was the elimination of palm-oil from my diet. I found I had an easy time with it as many food-based products that use palm-oil are generally unhealthy and it is in your best interest to not eat them in the first place. I am referring to chocolate, cookies, ice cream, margarine, instant noodles, etc. All of these are widely recognized as unhealthy and labelled “junk food” for good reason.

But, how exactly does palm oil contribute to deforestation? The answer is quite simple. In order to cultivate palm-oil on such a massive scale, entire forests and other greenspaces are cleared out for the implementation of palm-oil plantations and its inevitable harvesting. This leads to all kinds of problems, including the destruction of ecosystems, loss in biodiversity, carbon emissions, and soil degradation. All of which are damaging and have long term ramifications on the overall health of the environment.

Speaking more realistically now, while this will not stop the mass production of palm-oil and the deforestation that it implies, you can at least say that you are making an effort to change your personal impact on the environment. Every small action contributes to a larger movement towards sustainability.

Here is the website that I used to determine some of the most common products that include palm-oil and why they incorporate it: https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/which-everyday-products-contain-palm-oil

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Luca G Furino 10/21/2024 3:03 PM

Thanksgiving:

From what I understood, each video targets some different aspect of environmental degradation by explaining it then offering solutions on what can be done to ameliorate it. In particular, the topics of each video included, ecological footprint, carbon footprint, degrowth, and economic inequality. For the most part, they all culminate in criticizing one aspect of contemporary society that is to blame for our planet’s current environmental crisis. Overconsumption, economic disparity, and perpetual growth, all of which are interconnected by the capitalistic economy we live in. While they do not directly blame capitalism, the root of the problems that they discuss can be traced back to capitalism.
Looking more closely at degrowth, how could it theoretically improve human life? By prioritizing well-being over material consumption, degrowth aims to alleviate the pressures of overwork and reduce stress. It would especially improve upon our state of mind, as we would not be as obsessed with making and retaining money. In other words, with less emphasis on economic growth, societies may focus more on health, education, and environmental care, leading to a higher quality of life for all people.

In terms of things that I am thankful for that do not negatively impact the environment, I would personally say my grandmother’s garden. It provides me with fresh vegetables whose quality is unmatched in comparison to the greenhouse grown produce that you purchase at grocery stores. From a more general standpoint, I would say Quebec’s hydroelectric dams. While they do harm the environment in some capacity, it is still considerably more eco friendly than the burning of fossil fuels which release all manner of greenhouse gasses into the environment. For a more practical reason, we pay significantly less money on energy here in Quebec because of our abundant hydroelectric resources. As a matter of fact, the money that we spend on electricity in Quebec makes us one of if not the cheapest place in North America when it comes to expenses on electricity.

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Luca G Furino 10/16/2024 12:42 PM

Week 9 Sustainability Action:

Over the past few weeks, I have been steadily integrating some aspects of the 5 Rs into my current lifestyle. In order to achieve this, I first looked at what I was doing in my everyday life that could be practiced in a more sustainable fashion than what I was previously doing.

In terms of refusal, I used to bring single use plastic bags to store my lunch when I would eat at school. I no longer do this, as I no longer eat lunch at school. Now, this could also be achieved by bringing a multi-use lunch box dedicated to storing your lunch, but not eating lunch achieves the same outcome. For reduction, one of my biggest wastes was single-use plastic water bottles. I would bring one to school and use that for the day. This is a habit I am glad to say I no longer have, as I now bring a multi-use water bottle instead that not only holds a greater volume of water, but is a more sensical option over all. I still regularly recycle on a weekly basis when I can. I will frequently order things online and recycle the boxes/containers that the packaging is composed of. I personally don’t repurpose and/or reuse items that I no longer have a use for, but I make an effort to donate that which I no longer need to people who do. Namely, clothes, books, and old electronics.

All of these actions don’t individually have a great impact by themselves, but when you look at the holistic side of things you see that all of these little actions contribute to the ultimate goal of adopting a more sustainable lifestyle and moving away from one of needless consumerism.

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Luca G Furino 10/09/2024 9:51 AM

Week 8 Sustainability Action:

Environmental sustainability in the fashion industry is often overlooked in terms of environmental protection, but that does not necessarily mean it is something that should be deprioritized. In fact, the fashion industry has a significant impact on the environment, from the use of water and chemicals in textile production to the disposal of garments that contribute to waste in landfills. Fast fashion, in particular, encourages overconsumption and short product life cycles, exacerbating environmental degradation. Prioritizing sustainability in fashion involves adopting practices such as using eco-friendly materials, reducing waste, and promoting ethical labor practices. By shifting toward more sustainable production and consumption patterns, the fashion industry can play a crucial role in mitigating climate change and preserving natural resources for future generations.
Personally speaking, I have never been one to adopt fashion trends. I have always stuck with a very simple aesthetic and used that for the past however many years. But, that is not to say that this information is useless to someone who does not buy into expensive fashion or obsesses over fashion trends. It is always better to be conscientious about what kind of clothes you are purchasing, and what kind of message such clothing promotes. What kind of brands you buy from and endorse, also has an impact. After all, the choices we make as consumers can shape the practices of the fashion industry. Only collectively can such action make any difference.

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Luca G Furino 10/02/2024 10:23 AM

Week 7 Sustainability Action:

This week, I spent time learning about the energy generation potential of biomass and its possible applications in the future. For context, biomass is any organic material derived from plants and animals, such as wood, crops, algae, or even waste products, that can be converted into energy.
Biomass holds significant potential as a renewable resource because it can be transformed into various forms of energy, including heat, electricity, and biofuels, offering diverse applications. It is often considered carbon-neutral, as the carbon dioxide released during its combustion or decomposition is roughly equivalent to the amount absorbed by plants during their growth cycle, making this an attractive alternative to fossil fuels. This in turn, contributes to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the use of biomass helps reduce waste by repurposing agricultural residues, forestry byproducts, and organic waste that would otherwise contribute to environmental degradation.

However, the efficiency of energy generation from biomass can vary based on factors like the type of feedstock used and the technology employed, which impacts its overall sustainability and cost-effectiveness in the long term.

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Luca G Furino 10/02/2024 10:01 AM

The Power of Mass Demonstrations:

Mass demonstrations by the general public are an empowering thing. No matter the reason behind the protest, there is a sense of unity among all of those present, and that feeling of strength in numbers is what motivates people enough to keep going, or even recruits others that were too afraid to stand up because they did no see how many people were willing to fight for the same cause.
On the opposing side of things, it is not something that governments can ignore very easily. If they do ignore it, then election season may not be so favorable for them next time around. There is also the unrest of the general public that could panic them enough to actually give into the demands, as enough pressure from the public would cause any government to cave, especially if your so-called government claims to be a democratic one.

That being said, while this most recent September 27th climate march is not something that I believe will incur a dramatic response from the government, it is also not something that can be brushed off as if they do, then it encourages more climate protests to take place until their pleas are actually heard, and we have seen just how large these marches can actually be.

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- Luca G Furino 10/02/2024 10:03 AM
  
  Image Link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/garryknight/15125322428
  
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