Jonathan Sztainberg

I will cut green house gas emissions related to my commute to John Abbott College on Earth day, April 22. I will only use muscle-powered transportation (walk, bike, skateboard) for my commute.

Rigaud Mountain is an expansive natural resource that we rely upon to run many of our Outdoor Education courses, here at JAC. It is under extreme pressure from development and mismanagement, and in desperate need of protection. Facing COVID and the Climate Crisis, the need to protect our few remaining local intact forests, is more stronger than ever. We need them, for our health and wellness, and they are disappearing. If you are able, please support this important cause and take a few moments to forward this letter to others who understand its importance. The petition and funding pages are accessible through the "Learn More" button.

Cheap, single-use items and disposable packaging end up blowing around as litter more often in poor and BIPOC-majority neighborhoods. I will avoid buying and using 3 single-use plastics and instead replace them with durable options.

I will plan ahead to only use paper products made from post-consumer recycled paper for my home or office.

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, making sure to not contaminate recyclables with non-recyclables.

I will encourage my office to hold meetings virtually whenever possible instead of requiring travel.

I will take a walk for 60 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning about green gentrification and how it relates to city planning for climate action.

Instead of biking or driving to my destination, I will choose to walk !

I will research and support local farmers who have made the decision to not use synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.

I will watch a video about methane digesters (also commonly known as anaerobic digesters).

I will explore the interactive map in the links below to find a supermarket that does not use HFC refrigerants near my home.

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

I will spend at least 22 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of biomass.

I will replace 3 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

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

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

I will start a compost bin where I live.

I will cook 3 meal(s) with zero-waste each day

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.

I will keep a daily log of food I throw away during Earth Month Ecochallenge, either because it went bad before I ate it, I put too much on my plate, or it was scraps from food preparation.

I will enjoy 3 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.