Ecochallenge.org

Drawdown Ecochallenge

Jeremy Kemper

Asheville High School Spring 2021

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
681 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

257

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

2.0

conversations

with people

Jeremy's actions

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 22 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Forest-Friendly Foods 1

Tropical Forest Restoration

I will spend at least 38 minutes researching the impact of my diet to see how it contributes to deforestation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Research the Climate Impact of Refrigerants

Refrigerant Management

I will spend 27 minute(s) learning about the climate impact of refrigerants and what climate-friendly refrigerants are by using the links below.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Composting

Composting, Reduced Food Waste

I will start a compost bin where I live.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Explore Other Transportation Solutions

All Transportation Solutions

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching other Drawdown Transportation Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Share Bioplastic Disposal Tips

Bioplastics

I will spend at least 25 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

Health and Education

Learn about the Need for Family Planning

Health and Education

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Research Barriers to Participation and Representation

Health and Education

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Learn about Temperate Forests

Temperate Forest Restoration

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning more about the environmental services provided by and the environmental issues affecting temperate forests.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Land Sinks

Research Peatlands

Peatland Protection and Rewetting

I will spend 15 minutes researching the environmental benefits of peatlands and what is being done around the world to conserve and restore them.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More about Biomass

Biomass Power

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More About Geothermal Energy

Geothermal Power

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Calculate the carbon footprint of my household

I will calculate the carbon emissions associated with my household and consider how different lifestyle choices could reduce our carbon footprint and our impact on the environment.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More about Micro Wind

Micro Wind Turbines

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

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity

Learn More about Wave and Tidal Energy

Ocean Power

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

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 Sinks Learn about Temperate Forests

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?

Jeremy Kemper 12/02/2020 6:42 AM

Since learning more about the challenges and danger that Earth faces, I have become much more self conscious about what I do and the choices I make. I’m much more conservative of water and electricity, I make sure to dispose of waste in the most eco-friendly way when I can, I tell my family about the things I learn, etc. The main parts that make me feel overwhelmed are that 1.) the humans that are causing ecologically bad things to occur (other than everyday citizens) are either hiding or ignoring the side effects that their actions have on the planet, and that 2.) people are actually believing it. They are fine with ignoring or not believing in the harm that industrial meat production, coal mining, deforestation, overpopulation, and more have on Earth. The part that makes me feel hopeful is that it seems that both citizens and governments are starting to finally do something about the problem that our world is facing. There is more green energy, more vegetarian/vegan food options everywhere, organizations created to fight against climate change and all of its causes, etc.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks Research Peatlands

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?

Jeremy Kemper 12/01/2020 7:21 AM

I can help make choices to help protect peatlands by avoiding products that use ingredients/brands responsible for deforestation, reducing the amount of waste I produce as to help the environment, and by advocating for/donating to environmental organizations that protect things like peatlands.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health and Education Research Barriers to Participation and Representation

What are some of the barriers that exist to women's equal participation and/or representation in your community?

Jeremy Kemper 11/30/2020 8:13 AM

Some barriers that exist to women’s equal participation/representation within my community include fewer educational and business opportunities, smaller wages, prejudice/stereotypes, physical/sexual abuse, limited political representation, and more.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry Share Bioplastic Disposal Tips

What concerns you the most about how we are affecting the planet? Consider both local and global actions.

Jeremy Kemper 11/29/2020 9:30 AM

The thing that concerns me the most about the way we are affecting the planet is the fact that the more we damage the Earth, the more it looks like the damage is irreversible. Everyday, the hole in our ozone layer grows bigger, the amount of carbon emissions grows larger, the amount of clean, potable water grows smaller, the number of wild animals shrink. With all this negative change going on within our environment, the future looks rather dark for this planet.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Health and Education Learn about the Need for Family Planning

What did you learn about the need for family planning? How do the needs of different people in different places compare to each other?

Jeremy Kemper 11/28/2020 2:40 PM

I learned that family planning can help to reduce global warming and can better the aspects of a female's life. The more people on the planet, the more people creating waste/carbon. Family planning reduces the amount of people being born into this world, thus reducing the carbon footprint of humans. The needs of people differ from place to place in many ways depending on the laws/living conditions of different nations. for example, one nation might have shortage of clean water while another might have laws that create gender inequality. The people of the former nation need clean water while the people of the latter nation need legislative reform.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation Explore Other Transportation Solutions

What did you find out? What is the most interesting fact you learned?

Jeremy Kemper 11/27/2020 4:52 PM

I learned that some ways to reduce pollution from transportation include improving the energy efficiency of vehicles, carpooling/using more public transport, and electrifying automobiles. The most interesting fact that I found was that 14% of global greenhouse gas emissions or 7 gigatons of carbon dioxide is produced from transportation.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Composting

Producing food that goes uneaten squanders many resources—seeds, water, energy, land, fertilizer, hours of labor, financial capital. Which of these kinds of waste most motivates you to change your behavior regarding food waste? Why?

Jeremy Kemper 11/26/2020 8:22 AM

Of the things listed, I would say that the thing that most motivates me to change my behavior regarding food waste is the wasting of water and hours of labor. Water because our fresh water sources are critical now as they are being diminished and polluted. Hours of labor because the effort that people put into the composted food doesn't deserve to be wasted.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry Research the Climate Impact of Refrigerants

What did you learn about the climate impact of refrigerants? How do supermarkets contribute to this impact?

Jeremy Kemper 11/25/2020 10:31 AM

Refrigerants can harm the climate through their chemicals destroying the atmosphere both through greenhouse gases and killing the ozone layer. Supermarkets contribute to this impact through the air conditioners and refrigerators that they use to keep the store and frozen foods a nice temperature.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Land Sinks Forest-Friendly Foods 1

How is your diet currently impacting deforestation? What can you do to decrease your negative impact and increase your positive impact?

Jeremy Kemper 11/24/2020 10:12 AM

My diet impacts deforestation through the way that my food is made. Many of the ingredients in common food items today are contributors to deforestation. Regarding the 4 foods that are destroying the tropical rain forest, I don’t eat meat and I’ve heavily reduced the amount of eggs and dairy that I eat and I don’t drink coffee. However, I do eat a lot of chocolate and items that contain palm oil, so while I’ve made a start at reducing my impact on deforestation, I still have a ways to go.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

How does knowing the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates empower you to make better decisions?

Jeremy Kemper 11/23/2020 9:45 AM

Now that I know the difference between these three different labels and what they actually mean, I will view expiration dates with less judgment and will just eat/use the product. I already used products even after their expiration date but now I feel even better knowing that they only describe taste quality and not health quality.

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