Ecochallenge.org

Drawdown Ecochallenge 2024

Naveen Ahmed

SiA 2024

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
61 TOTAL

Naveen's actions

Transportation

Explore Other Transportation Solutions

All Transportation Solutions

I will spend at least 20 minutes researching other Drawdown Transportation Solutions.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings

Share to Social Media: Buildings

Buildings

Through social media (LinkedIn or Instagram), I will share what I've learned about the Buildings sector and tag Ecochallenge.org.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Buildings

Tour a Green Roof

Green and Cool Roofs

I will set up a visit or a virtual tour of a green roof in my city, and ask about the codes and process for installing a green roof.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Cook With Seaweed

Seaweed Farming

I will use seaweed in a new recipe.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Recycle Everything I Can

Recycling; Recycled Metals; Recycled Plastics

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will research and recycle all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community, including electronics and metals.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity

Support Companies Leading in Green Energy

Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaics, Distributed Solar Photovoltaics

I will use my spending power to reward companies leading in creating or purchasing green energy and incentivize others to invest more in green energy.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Health and Education

Support Businesses Owned by Women, POC, or Immigrants

Sustainable Intensification for Smallholders

I will spend 20 minutes researching and shopping from 2 businesses owned by women, people of color, or immigrants.

UNCOMPLETED
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 0
DAILY ACTIONS

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 0
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Sinks

Choose Better Wood Products

Forest Protection

I will only purchase wood and paper products from ecologically certified sources like Forest Stewardship Council.

COMPLETED 0
DAILY ACTIONS

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).

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Research and Advocate for High-Speed Rail

High-Speed Rail

I will spend at least 25 minutes researching and advocating for a comprehensive high speed rail network in my country/region.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

Naveen Ahmed 11/12/2024 2:50 PM
November 13 Final Post:
The Eco-Challenge has helped me shift my perspective towards climate change. Global warming has happened through a collective effort of mankind. It only makes sense that in our fight against climate change, our solutions should be collective as well. However, the eco-challenge posts have made me aware that even a small decision change in our daily life, can make a huge impact towards building a sustainable future. It is easy to think that one person alone, cannot build up a sustainable future for our planet. To some extent, it is true. However, we can also have the perspective that the world becomes a little bit better when we choose to prioritize decisions that takes our mother nature into consideration. I think my efforts made an impact because i am spreading awareness throughout my community and for myself by being informed. In my challenges, i didnt include friends or family, however i talked to them about it. I think making people participate in these challenges can lead to a much needed awareness. I want to continue some of the aspects of eco-challenges- such as recycling, visiting green buildings, using local products. However, actions such as tree planting would not be possible for me in a realistic level. Although, I hope to stay in touch with my actions and gathering knowledge.
A world without fossil fuels could be beneficial to the environment (clean air and absence of pollution). It could also contribute in shifting our climate change for the better and providing a healthy environment altogether. However, the absence of fossil fuels would mean the acceleration of use for other natural resources. Economy could get damaged and many countries that depend heavily on fossil fuels as their economic strength would soon find themselves to be in jeopardy.

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Naveen Ahmed 11/03/2024 3:30 PM
High Speed Railways (Nov 6 Post):
Based on the articles I've read so far regarding HSR, it seems like a plausible solution to sustainable transportation. HSR is the invention of bullet trains that can reach long distances in the span of short times. In the article titled, "High Speed Rails" by the Project Drawdown group, it mentions how the construction of HSR can eliminate carbon emissions by a huge amount (numbers reaching gigatons) compared to how much emissions are exerted by airplanes. HSR seems like an obvious solution and has already been adapted in China and many European countries. However, in the article, "Why doesn't the US have high speed bullet trains?", the author mentions a problem that US states can face by allowing the construction of HSR, compared to Europe. The presence of suburban cities can make the construction of rail lines very difficult as, houses in the US are quite different compared to cities in Europe/Asia. Moreover, after the travel with the train would be completed, passengers would find it difficult to reach their houses without the use of automobiles. Any train station/ metro station, as a result, usually has a bigger span of parking lot next to it. The author suggested the concept of autonomous driving, which can eliminate the construction of bigger parking lots and encouraged young entrepreneurs to find a solution. Without a doubt, an HSR should be considered a welcoming solution if it can fight against global warming and the elimination of greenhouse gases as much as it is possible. It is a shame that countries would rather let sustainable ideas go to waste by investing money in wars.

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Naveen Ahmed 11/03/2024 2:47 PM
Tree-Planting Oct 30 Post:
For my ecological activity this week, I participated with my class in a tree planting activity. Trees are the most obvious counter that we can have against carbon emissions. Trees, not only aid in capturing excessive carbon of the environment, it can also provide shade and can cool down our clearly never-ending warm earth. By being able to plant a tree with the help of experts, I can use my experience in planting other trees in the near future near my house. In terms of sustainability, trees help in creating a healthier environment and aid in our combat against global warming.

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Naveen Ahmed 11/03/2024 2:34 PM
Thanksgiving Post:
From the four videos distributed to watch, I believe the general message that is spread is about how much of an impact our decisions can make in the world. We are now at a point in our society where the use of our resources have been deemed extreme amongst the wealthy and not enough amongst the poor. As a result, inequality becomes evident. Inequality triggers the gravest of problems in our society that can be related to health, to wealth and the surviving of society. De-growth has become the only option. De-growth would ensure an equitable sharing of resources, making a society closer to equality in terms of wealth and sustainability of the world.
I am grateful that no light switches in my home stay turned on if there's nobody present on the room, I am also grateful that our groceries are not left to waste as we finish almost all of our food that we buy. De-growth can help me build relationships amongst my community by sharing and caring for others.

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Naveen Ahmed 10/31/2024 4:24 PM
October 9 Post:
I have been cycling to my work instead of taking the car. It has been a nice switch as it really helps me to properly take in the nature while also getting a proper exercise. Biking can really minimize CO2 emissions by a huge amount as I am not using my car. Moreover, cars use a lot of gasoline which is a refined oil product. Biking eliminates the need of gasoline and prioritizes a healthier lifestyle as I can get a workout out of it as well.

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Naveen Ahmed 10/02/2024 9:22 AM
A Just Climate Transition
In order to achieve our goals for climate change, there are many factors that come into affect. A just climate transition is the type of transition that creates a sustainable present and a future while prioritizing equity. Quebec's plan shows the benefits and the struggles that could arise while implementing this transition. For example, socially, the benefits of implementing this transition could see the use of less energy in houses through passive solar design and less use of carbon energy. However, social costs to this transition could also invent new situations of inequality. A just transition also means that it would provide actions based upon the risks. Vulnerable people and regions would get more priority to develop actions based on risks over creating general actions altogether. Climate change increases the risk of flooding, heating, erosion in Quebec and the people that can be most affected by them are the indigenous. The transition urges us to work with the indigenous in prioritizing their safety and well being first. Another example would be the use of green energy. If we force green energy onto the population, we have to take into consideration the different levels of people in a society and whether a low income household can afford to get on board with it. The just climate transition is about the use of sustainable actions based upon equity and fairness to the population.

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- Naveen Ahmed 10/02/2024 9:25 AM
  Pic description as it didn't show up
  The picture shows a lady lying on the ground with a banner that reads "I am sure dinosaurs had time too" implying that time is running out and if proper actions are going to be taken, no time is better than now.
  
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Naveen Ahmed 9/25/2024 9:14 AM
SEPT 25 POST (GREEN ROOFS):
I have always found green roofs fascinating and wondered how a rather obvious gamechanger to climate change has never been religiously implemented in the construction industry. Although the costs are quite heavy to be implemented, the amount of CO2 emissions that can be avoided are immense. Not to mention, the energy savings that would result in almost trumping the initial cost. Green roofs are practically roofs with vegetation. They provide insulation to the building and can slowdown water runoff as water becomes absorbed. Cool roofs are also another interesting solution. Cool roofs are bright colored roofs that can reverse the urban heat island effect and help cities cool down at night. Studies show that if cool roof adaptation and green roof adaptation increase by 5 to 6 percent more than the current percentage, carbon dioxide emissions would see a reduction of 0.53-0.99 gigatons. Although the initial cost to implement would be around 500 to 800 billion dollars, the lifetime savings on heating, cooling would reach around 300 to 500 billion, not to mention, the obvious drop in CO2 emissions. In my opinion, there should be strict regulations presented in the construction industry, whether it is a new or a renovation project, to implement either green or cool roofs in the building, depending on the scale of the project.

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Naveen Ahmed 9/11/2024 9:17 AM
SEPT 11 RECYCLING POST:
The necessities of recycling has become a huge factor in battling climate change. Based on the articles of EcoChallenge, I have discovered that a family of four can eliminate 340 pounds of carbon equivalent emissions from the planet just by recycling plastic waste. In my house, we have a separate container for all things that are supposed to be recycled such as, paper, plastics, metal. As a result, it makes it easier to separate recycling waste from other waste and using the recycling container of the neighborhood. However, I wasn't aware of non-recyclable plastics, such as, small plastics, plastic wraps, deodorant bottles. As a result, for my action, I have started to be more aware of what I put in my recycling container and verify beforehand in the packaging. Often times, it is mentioned whether a product is recyclable or not.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

What recipe did you make and how did it turn out? Will you cook with seaweed again?
Naveen Ahmed 9/11/2024 9:00 AM
I tried making a shrimp fried rice with seaweed sprinkled on top. It was quite delicious and I am going to try to incorporate seaweed in my diet.

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- Richard Klopp 9/11/2024 10:32 AM
  Please briefly explain in your post why this is relevant.
  
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Naveen Ahmed 9/03/2024 2:55 PM
VANIER COMMUTE Commuting to Vanier for me is very time consuming. As I live in the South Shore, bus-metro transportation usually takes around 1h30 mins. So, I use my car but even with my car, it takes an hour as a result of traffic and parking. I do not think I can change my transportation method, however, I believe carpooling is an aspect I can implement in order to achieve my sustainability goals.

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- Richard Klopp 9/03/2024 8:41 PM
  You should definitely look at car pooling. Maybe we can get a team of students to tackle this as their project,
  
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