{"id":43510,"date":"2020-08-05T10:48:40","date_gmt":"2020-08-05T17:48:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.carpediemeducation.org\/?page_id=43510"},"modified":"2025-01-03T10:55:27","modified_gmt":"2025-01-03T18:55:27","slug":"sustainability","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carpediemeducation.org\/sustainability\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustainability"},"content":{"rendered":"
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    Climate Change & Sustainability<\/h1>\n
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      Carpe Diem's Answers<\/h3>\n<\/div>
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      While we know there are countless positive outcomes that come from a program like ours, we must also weigh its negative impacts ... especially those related to climate change. We believe in first being open and honest, acknowledging the extra impacts inherent to international travel. We consider these impacts on every program and feel that we have not just a moral obligation, but also a practical one to add to our students\u2019 learning and hopefully inspire positive change locally and back home.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      \"\"<\/a>Our largest carbon footprint is airfare, affecting our students, their families, the communities we visit, and the global community. To reduce and inset our impacts, we\u2019re constantly changing itineraries to be more climate-conscious; we're investing heavily in educational curricula; we're introducing students directly to those impacted by climate change; we're connecting students to our inspirational partners who are making a difference; and we strive to contribute meaningful works on every program. It\u2019s our hope that seeing the real impacts of climate change will connect & inspire further action as our students (future leaders) return to their home communities.<\/span><\/p>\n

      This spring of 2025, we are investing heavily in climate adaptation projects such as ground solar installations for rural and remote communities, and continuing our push to urgently address this central issue.\u00a0 Students will create personal Climate Action Plans to research and propose personal ways that can smartly advance solutions - whether as an artist, a musician, an engineer, a teacher, or any other profession - humanity needs us all to contribute in our own way.\u00a0 At the end of the program, students will write to at least three politicians, talking about their experiences and hopes, and exhorting political action: the only significant way to address this existential issue.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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      Why is this important?<\/h3>\n<\/div>
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      According to the EPA, human activities are responsible for almost all of the greenhouse gas increases over the last 150 years. Greenhouse gasses (GHG) trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere and make the planet warmer. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most common greenhouse gas emission, caused especially by burning fossil fuels (for electricity, heat, construction, transportation, and everything that drives our modern economy).\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      The amount of carbon dioxide a person or group emits due to the consumption of fossil fuels is known as their \u201ccarbon footprint.\u201d While the concept of an individual \u201ccarbon footprint\u201d was initially pioneered by the fossil fuel industry to shift responsibility to consumers, the reality is that carbon footprints are a necessary tool to work towards net-zero, and a pedagogical tool to educate about climate change. Equally as important however, is the need to be honest about our impacts first: even as airlines become more efficient, increased demand for travel represents roughly 8% of total carbon emissions annually.\u00a0 Americans on average EACH contribute 16 Tons of CO2 per year.\u00a0 By contrast, the average Guatemalan (1.14 Tons\/pp\/year), Indian (1.8 Tons\/pp\/year), Thai (3.6 Tons\/pp\/year), or Italian (5.4 Tons\/pp\/year) contributes significantly less.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      Carpe Diem recognizes that the scale of the problem far exceeds any individual's ability to make a significant impact ... unless it is connected to a larger effort.\u00a0 Thus, our work is aimed at inspiring students through specific experiences of positive change, and ultimately driving community and thus political change, that makes a climate strategy feasible at-scale.\u00a0 At the end of the day, it will be the millions of small and large efforts, inspirations, considerations, regenerative agricultural systems, technological advances, ... and politics, that succeed.<\/p>\n

      So what to do?\u00a0 Our plan is this:<\/b><\/p>\n

      STEP 1: Be honest and take action: Each of us, \u2026 even if it\u2019s a small adjustment.<\/span><\/p>\n

      STEP 2: Talk about our own behavioral changes and research shows two-thirds of listeners will change behavior: Talk about it.<\/span><\/p>\n

      STEP 3: Drive meaningful community & political action through inclusive means: Build allies, listen, and advocate. Don't shame.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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      Here's what we're doing<\/h3>\n<\/div>
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      From our Pacific Northwest Headquarters<\/b><\/h3>\n

      We choose to be headquartered in the Pacific Northwest not only because the people are smart, caring, kind, and solution-oriented, but also because we believe it\u2019s a community moving in the right direction to minimize our carbon footprint. For example:\u00a0<\/span>Electricity is largely renewable (OR and WA represent <\/span>2 of the top 5 renewable producing states in the US<\/span><\/a>). As well, in o<\/span>ur home community of Portland, the trash is only collected every other-week, and recycling\/compost weekly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      Actions Across the ENTIRE Organization<\/b><\/h3>\n

      We commit to:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n