Earth Month Special: The 101 for Building a Sustainable Lifestyle
Practical strategies to make our journey towards a sustainable future easier and one-of-a-kind multi-sensory experience
Let’s just say, this is one for the books!
From the insightful talks by our local luminaries Kelly Drennan, Amy Castator, and Liann Bobechko, to the delicious plant-based bites by Inwit to the fascinating multi-sensory immersive experience of Arcadia Earth, our Earth Month special event was everything we hoped for, and more.
Check out all the highlights of the night below!
📋 QUICK TAKEAWAYS
Like any lifestyle change, living a sustainable life too starts with building a system of atomic habits. As we practice them more and more, they become a natural way of life and compound into a lifestyle that’s good for the planet too. What’s better too, is upgrading your lifestyle in the comradery of others.
So here at Climate North, we want you to feel supported by this community to take action and know that you have a group of new found friends to join you on this journey.
Here are some of the habits we picked up from the talks at the event:Go the slow fashion way - shop for value instead of price.
Take The Slow Fashion Road - shop for value instead of price.
Repurpose and Repair - Learn how to fix up your existing wardrobe before replacing it with new purchases.
Shop Local - Promote the idea of individual action while supporting small and sustainable local initiatives whenever possible.
Share and Connect - Finally, talk about it with friends, family and colleagues to exchange ideas, inspire action and raise awareness.
👗 IMPACTFUL CHOICES
The Urgency of Circular Fashion: A Plea to Redefine Fashion
No matter how much and how regularly you shop, if you almost always feel like you’re unable to keep up with the trends, join the club! And quite frankly, it’s not just you. Even our planet shows us that it’s unable to keep up with the rapidly changing fashion trends, explains Kelly Drennan, Founding Executive Director at Fashion Takes Action.
The current landscape:
A few years ago, brands would launch new styles in two seasons every year - Autumn/Winter and Spring/Summer. But with the recent proliferation of fast-fashion household brands like SHEIN, Zara, and H&M, we’re witnessing a phenomenon of 52 micro seasons with 100 new styles released every week. (if your first thought was “WTF!”, so was ours.)
The (fashion) epidemic:
Today 65% of our clothes are made of synthetic fibres a.k.a. plastic. Annually, 92 million tonnes of clothing end up in landfills globally, with Canada contributing approximately 500,000 tonnes. The prevalent 'take-make-use-trash' linear economy model exacerbates this issue by promoting short-lived garment use and significant waste generation.
The anti-dote:
Adopt slow fashion and shop for value over price as well as promote circular fashion. Simultaneously, embrace the many 'R's of responsible consumption as advocated by Kelly:
Reduce: Cutting down on the quantity of fashion items purchased.
Reuse: Extending the life of clothes through swapping, donating, or repurposing.
Repair: Fixing items instead of discarding them.
Rent: Choosing rental options for infrequently worn items like formal wear.
Resale: Participating in the second-hand market to buy and sell used clothing.
Recycle: Supporting the recycling of textiles to prevent waste and promote resource efficiency.
Fashion Takes Action (FTA) is a non-profit organization established in 2007 to advance sustainability in the entire fashion system through education, awareness, research and collaboration.
🤝 EMPOWERING CHANGE
Secret to Sustainable Cities: Actively Participating Citizens
When Liann Bobechko, a seasoned editor and environmental advocate at Bluedot Living, shared invaluable insights about “the secrets of sustainable cities”, she highlighted how individuals are as pivotal in driving sustainability in urban environments as the businesses and governments.
Key Insights:
Liann’s discussion centered on practical examples of sustainability in action:
Individual Initiatives: She emphasized the power of simple, engaging actions that individuals can undertake, such as installing rain gardens to combat urban flooding, which not only beautify spaces but also serve functional ecological purposes.
Business Innovations: Bobechko showcased how businesses are making profitable and smart changes by integrating sustainability into their models. For instance, the transformation of urban spaces like Moakley Park in Boston, where landscape urbanism is being employed to create eco-friendly public spaces.
Governmental Strategies: The presentation also covered how governments and organizations are implementing large-scale sustainable practices. For instance, the introduction of ultra-low emission zones in London and school bus electrification in Los Angeles represent significant strides towards reducing urban carbon footprints.
Why It Matters:
The emphasis on a diverse range of stakeholders from different sectors underscores a comprehensive approach to urban sustainability. Bobechko's message is clear: sustainable cities are not only about large-scale infrastructure projects but also about everyday actions and community engagements that collectively lead to significant environmental benefits.
Bluedot Living is an environmental lifestyle magazine that highlights sustainable ideas, inspiring people, and smart climate actions across major U.S. cities and Toronto, aiming to inspire positive environmental change through compelling storytelling.
🚄 ACCELERATING ACTION
Practical Steps for Individuals: Measure. Integrate. Reduce.
As the Director of Project Neutral, Amy Castator is dedicated to engaging communities in the climate movement through practical, action-oriented programs.
Understanding and Acting on Climate Change:
A fervent climate activist and community influencer, Castator highlighted the critical role of personal action in combating climate change. She stressed the importance of understanding our individual contributions to greenhouse gas emissions, which primarily come from home energy use, daily transportation, travel, and food waste.
Practical Steps for Individuals:
Amy emphasized the simple yet powerful steps everyone can take to reduce their climate impact:
Calculate Your Carbon Footprint: Utilizing tools like Project Neutral's Carbon Calculator helps individuals understand their personal emissions and identify areas for improvement.
Adopt New Climate Actions: Whether it's changing travel habits, reducing energy consumption, or minimizing food waste, small changes can lead to significant environmental benefits.
Communicate: One of the most effective actions is to talk about climate change. By discussing it openly, individuals can spread awareness and encourage others to take action.
A Call to Collective Action:
Amy Castator's presentation served as a compelling call to integrate climate action into everyday life. By leveraging tools and resources provided by initiatives like Project Neutral, individuals can significantly contribute to a sustainable future, making each step a collective stride towards mitigating climate impact.
Project Neutral has been instrumental since 2010 in educating and mobilizing over 13,000 households towards measuring and reducing their carbon footprints. The organization's focus extends across various community sectors, including schools and workplaces, aiming to make climate action accessible and impactful.
💰GENEROUS SUPPORT
A huge thank you to our sponsors!
We were so fortunate to have the support of both Genus Capital Management and Arcadia Earth for this month's event. We couldn’t have done it without you!
About our Sponsors:
Darryl Brown is Head of Eastern Canada, Associate Client Relationship Manager at Genus Capital Management, an independent investment firm based in Vancouver and Toronto, specializing in sustainable investing. The firm, established in 1994, leverages innovative data technology to provide customized investment solutions, including fossil-free funds and impact investing, catering to individual and institutional clients committed to responsible investment practices.
Connect: Schedule a free 30 mins consultation with Darryl to understand how Genus can support your investment needs.
Craig Perlmutter is the President of Arcadia Earth Toronto, a multi-sensory, immersive art exhibit designed to inspire visitors to engage with environmental issues and sustainability - to consider how small lifestyle changes can significantly affect the future of our environment. Located at The Well in downtown Toronto, this exhibit educates visitors on sustainability and the impact of human activities on the planet, encouraging actionable insights for a sustainable future.
Review: If you experienced Arcadia Earth and loved your experience,consider leaving them a review about your visit!
🐋 IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE
Arcadia Earth Toronto: A Beacon for Environmental Engagement
Arcadia Earth Toronto stands out as a pioneering immersive experience dedicated to promoting climate action. Located in the vibrant district of Downtown Toronto, this exhibit uses state-of-the-art technology and stunning art installations to vividly showcase the impacts of human actions on our planet. By engaging visitors through a multi-sensory journey, Arcadia Earth effectively educates and inspires action towards sustainability, making it a vital player in the movement to raise environmental awareness and drive meaningful change.
🗓️ UPCOMING EVENT
Keep an eye out!
We will meet again on May 22nd for another exciting event.
So hold the date and stay tuned for more details!
🤝 ASKS
Climate North is small but mighty and we’re always open to any volunteer support. We are currently in need of support with:
Speaker Recommendations
Event Sponsorship
If you’re interested, please write to us at hello@climatenorth.com expressing which you would be interested in supporting us with.
Spread the word: Everytime you share this newsletter with your network or bring along a plus one to our events, you exercise your power of influence in making our world more sustainable. Thank you for putting your force behind us.
We’re built for our community, by our community… Any help is appreciated :)
Thanks for making April such an epic month! See you in May :)
Rebeka (Becky) Romanovsky, Fab Barrillot, Chloe D'Agostini
Written by Tejas Shah
Pictures by Christopher Yam