CO2 Reduction Plan
Putting a lid on CO2 Emissions.
Keeping our planet a cool place to live, one volunteer at a time.
Be the change!
About
Don't know how to begin to reduce your CO2 or pollution footprint? Try using the plan below to get you started.
This is a Grass Roots effort by ordinary citizens to encourage all people to voluntarily reduce carbon dioxide emissions and global pollution. Our local, provincial, and federal governments cannot or will will not act quickly enough in order to avert environmental catastrophe. Each of us must commit to action – we can no longer afford to be bystanders.
You choose how you volunteer
Do part of or all items in the 12 months or just do the item or the months you want to. Jump in any time. Every month add another item to your routine if you can.
1. June- Plastics, Paper and Styrofoam 7. December- Consumerism
2. July- Buying Local 8. January- Recycling
3. August-Reduce Water Use 9. February-Cleaning Up
4. September-Getting Around 10. March-Planting For the Future
5. October-Energy Efficiency 11. April- Volunteer Month
6. November-Repurposing 12. May- Reduce Emissions
Watch Friendly Guide to Climate Change to learn how climate change works
Use Footprintcalculator.org to find out what your current footprint is!
Our children are begging us to change our habits and decrease our use of Fossil Fuels, check out Fridaysforfuture.org to be inspired.
1. June
Plastics, Paper and Styrofoam
01
Plastics and Styrofoam
Congratulations on starting your effort to affect climate change and the health of
our planet! Here are a few ideas.
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As much as possible, don't buy products that are plastic or styrofoam or are in plastic or styrofoam containers. Try not to replace with paper, we need our trees, take your own containers
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Buy from bulk bins
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Carry your own utensils with you in an old glasses case, wrap your sandwich in parchment paper or an old kitchen cloth that has been slightly dampened.
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When fully used, replace toothbrushes with bamboo ones
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Check out plasticfreejuly.org to keep on going!
2. July
Buying Local
*According to the UN 2019 climate report
"Internationally traded goods account for 30% of all CO2 emissions"
Every local bite helps!!!
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Buy as much fresh local food as you can this includes if you buy meat.
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*You get to decide what local means to you.
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Reduce meat consumption, try Meatless Mondays or consider going Vegetarian
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See if any farmer box programs are in your area, take advantage of one Visit a local farm or a Farmer's market to buy food. Thank your farmers
02
Buy Local
3. August
03
Reduce Water Use
Reduce Water Use
We all need water for our survival, in addition to saving water we can save energy too by using less. Pumping stations use lots of energy just to get water to many
of us and to treat water we have used.
Recommended Viewing:
Where is Water-The Water Rooms#2
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Don't wash your car until fall rains begin.
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Hand water your lawn and plants
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Brush your teeth without letting the water run, take 5 minute showers
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Put in low flush toilets
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Wash clothes with full loads and in cold water
4. September
Getting Around
Making footprints to reduce our footprint!
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If it's less than 1 mile or .75 Km away try walking if you can
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Ride your bike, foot propel or e-scooter more to work, to the local market, to school
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Try car pooling or use mass transit
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Just drive less
04
Getting Around
5. October
05
Energy Efficiency
Time to bring out the sweaters!
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Swap out your old bulbs when they go out for LED and unplug unused electronics that use passive energy
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Turn down the heat to 19'C/68' F turn up the AC 21'C/72' F in the Southern Hemisphere
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Make some draft stoppers
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Dry clothes on a clothing rack
Energy Efficiency
6. November
Repurposing
Landfills are full of clothing and fabric, see if you can repurpose what you have
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Donate things you no longer need to charity
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Arrange a clothing swap event
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Gift a piece of your wardrobe, toys or sports equipment to a friend or charity.
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If something you have is broken can it be fixed and then reused? Check out: Repaircafe.org,(it is in several languages), if one is not in your area, see if you can start one.
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You might also be interested in Zerowastehome.com with zero waste guru Bea Johnson
06
Repurposing
FOLLOW
07
7. December
Consumerism
Consumerism
Help the Earth and save some money too!
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Use cash or coins for purchases, all credit card transactions are stored on high energy consumption supercomputers
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Only buy what you and your family need
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Consider making your biggest holiday gift or contribution to preserving the Earth
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If you have a fireplace and do not need to use it to heat your home put candles in it instead for warm look
8. January
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Return unused medicines to your pharmacist for disposal
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Take glass bottles to your bottle depot (make sure they are clean)
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Find out where you can take your old cans of paint or donate them
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Clean your cans and bottles before recycling or they may wind up in the landfill, paper must be clean too
08
Recycling
FOLLOW
03
Recycling
Dec. 22 - Jan 21
If you already recycle keep up the good
work!
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Return unused medicines to your pharmacist for disposal
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Take bottles to your bottle depot
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Find out where you can take your old cans of paint
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If you don't already have a recycling program work with your local govt. to start one
Product Designer
FOLLOW
Cleaning Up
Jan 22 - Feb 21
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As you use up old cleaning supplies that you use for yourself, your home and your garden, replace them with earth friendly products
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See if you can get these new supplies in earth friendly containers as much as possible
04
HR Specialist
FOLLOW
Cleaning Up
Jan 22 - Feb 21
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As you use up old cleaning supplies that you use for yourself, your home and your garden, replace them with earth friendly products
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See if you can get these new supplies in earth friendly containers as much as possible
04
HR Specialist
9. February
Cleaning Up
09
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As you use up old cleaning supplies that you have for yourself, your home and your garden replace them with earth friendly products
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See if you can get your new supplies in earth friendly containers as much as possible like glass or in refillable containers
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Clean out your fridge and freezer and put food into environmentally and people friendly containers
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When going for a walk take a bag with you and pick up any garbage you find
Cleaning Up
10. March
Planting for the Future
check out: Trilliontreecampaign.org
Our plants and forests help absorb CO2
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Plant two trees and care for them
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Help care for a community garden, start a window box or grow veggies at home
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Restore Native Habitat
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Replace plants in your garden as they die with native plants
10
Planting for the Future
11
Volunteer Month
11. April
Volunteer Month
Pat yourself on the back for all the good changes you have already made!!
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Support another green initiative or green business
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Make beeswax food wraps and give them away
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Help someone else or a business get started on their CO2 reduction effort
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Let your representatives know that the Earth needs their help right now
12. May
Emission Reductions
This one will be a real challenge
but we can do it together
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Try driving only every other day, this means only driving on an odd or even day based on the last letter or number on your license plate
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If you have an electric vehicle give rides to people on their "off" day
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Drive just 15 days a month
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Real emission reduction comes from using less fossil fuels on a big scale.
12
Reducing Emissions
