What is the Nature Challenge Calculator?
This Nature Challenge calculator shows how your household affects nature. By inputting some basic personal information, the calculator will estimate your contribution to climate change, air and water pollution and the alteration of land and water habitat. Using the calculator, you can see the environmental benefits of taking David Suzuki's Nature Challenge. Read more about the Nature Challenge.
What is David Suzuki's Nature Challenge based on?
The most common question the Foundation receives is "what can I do?". To answer this question, the Foundation used a model developed by the U.S.-based Union of Concerned Scientists to determine the most effective ways to protect nature. Using Canadian data, we learned that some relatively simple changes in our daily lives related to the food we eat, the way we get around cities, and home energy use would make a significant difference in conserving our natural resources. To get this research to as many people as possible, we invited all Canadians to read about the 10 actions they could take, commit to doing as many as possible, and then sign up at www.davidsuzuki.org.
Learn more about the science behind the Nature Challenge at http://www.davidsuzuki.org/files/WOL/ChallengeScience.pdf (PDF)
How does the the Nature Challenge Calculator work?
The Nature Challenge shows the most important changes you can make in your daily lives to protect nature., the calculator then gives you a sense of your contribution to making the world a better place. First, the calculator provides a baseline of how you affect nature. After you indicate what Nature Challenge actions you intend to do, the calculator estimates how you have changed from your baseline. We hope these results will encourage Canadians to take the Nature Challenge and make some real changes in their daily decisions that will protect nature for future generations.
Can I see what others are doing for the Nature Challenge?
Definitely! We're collecting statistics on which Nature Challenge actions people are choosing to do, and estimating their cumulative effects. Check out the stats!
Why do I have to tell you what province I live in?
The environmental impacts of home energy use depend on how electricity is generated, which varies from province to province. In Alberta, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia most electricity comes from coal. In British Columbia, the Yukon, Manitoba, Quebec, and Newfoundland - Labrador, electricity is primarily derived from hydro. In the Northwest Territories and Nunavat, diesel, hydro and natural gas are the main electricity sources. In Ontario, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, electricity is generated from a variety of sources - including nuclear power plants.
Each form of electricity production has its drawbacks. Coal, natural gas and other fossil fuels cause greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants. Nuclear energy is a very expensive because of its long-lasting risks of radioactive waste, toxic contamination and associated health problems. Hydro power alters wildlife habitat due to river diversions, reservoir creation and water flow changes.
To find out more about how electricity is generated in your province, click here (PDF): http://www.davidsuzuki.org/files/WOL/GreenMap.pdf
Since the production of electricity from coal results in significant greenhouse gas emissions, a family living in Alberta choosing to reduce home energy use by 10 per cent will show dramatic results on the Nature Challenge calculator. However, a family living in Manitoba, where most electricity is generated from hydro won't see the same kind of dramatic effects from taking the same action.
Why is moving into a new home on the Nature Challenge?
We aren't advocating that people move, but if you are considering a move, the location of your home is important. An environmentally sound choice requires thinking about how your new dwelling will affect your transportation choices. Living in suburban developments normally involves a greater dependence on automobiles unless you live in an area serviced by inter-city rail.
Living close to work, school and shopping also reduces the time spent in your automobile so you can spend it on things that matter to you most. Northwest Environmental Watch estimates that the average person spends 32 hours a month driving. Biking or walking are good ways to get out of your car, but only if you live close enough to a your regular destinations. Another consideration is whether you have easy access to public transit.
One more thing to consider if you're moving: studies have found that people living in suburbs are more likely to be heavier by an average of six pounds and suffer more from health problems than people who live in pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods. Making a move that reduces your car dependence is good for nature - and for you.
Why isn't recycling on the Nature Challenge list?
The UCS model that's the basis for the Nature Challenge considered the impact of various categories of household expenditures on four environmental problems: global warming, air pollution, water pollution and habitat alteration. In terms of that analysis, our choices regarding transportation, food and home energy use are topics which have significantly more environmental impact than the garbage we produce. Of course, our study looks at the average Canadian households. Some cities are experiencing a landfill crisis, in which reducing garbage could be a local priority. Canadians are doing an excellent job of recycling and should continue to do so - even though it isn't on the Nature Challenge list.
What does eating meat have to do with the Nature Challenge? Are you asking me to become a vegetarian?!
Along with Americans and Australians, Canadians are among the world's top three meat consumers. We eat more than twice as much meat as the global average. The World Cancer Research fund recommends that individuals eat 80 grams of meat per day. But in 1999, the average Canadian ate three times that amount.
Although conventional meat producing and processing lead to several environmental problems, you don't have to become a vegetarian to make a difference. By designating one meat-free day each week, you'll conserve valuable water, energy and land.
Why is supporting alternative transportation on the list?
As long as automobiles burn fossil fuels, Earth's atmosphere will suffer and so will people from pollution-related illnesses. In addition, more cars mean more roads and parking facilities, and less green spaces and recreation areas.
Alternatives to the car exist but they won't be used unless they're safe, efficient and convenient. To achieve this, municipal governments must build and maintain public transit in Canadian cities while instituting traffic calming measures and greenways that encourage pedestrians and cyclists. Better transit requires better urban planning at the local level and financial support from the federal government.
I already do all 10 challenges, do I still need to sign-up?
Even if you already do all ten, by taking the Challenge you'll join thousands of Canadians in sending a powerful message to our leaders that we want a clean, healthy future. By working together we can inspire our business and government leaders to incorporate the environment into policies that reward conservation instead of destruction. A healthier environment isn't possible unless we all get involved.
Why is the Nature Challenge focused only on individual action? What about governments and corporations?
The goal of the David Suzuki Foundation is to make Canada a world leader in sustainable living and environmental protection by 2030. To achieve this milestone, people at all levels of society - individual, corporate, and government - need to get involved.
In the Foundations' report, Sustainability within a Generation, we present a vision of how environmental policies and legislation could give Canada a clean, efficient 21st Century economy that will improve our quality of life.
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