Défi-Climat is a climate awareness campaign held in March and April, a challenge involving several hundred organizations and businesses urging Montreal residents, as well as all Quebecers, to fight global warming and commit to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, methane or nitrous oxide. Below are five Défi-Climat strategies that, out of 11 recommendations for reducing pollution while traveling, produce the most dramatic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
And for future reference, here's the full 2009 list of Défi-Climat strategies (in French only).
1. Buy carbon credits to offset air travel pollution.
Défi-Climat recommends Quebecers take responsibility for their air travel and compensate for the greenhouse gases emitted by purchasing carbon credits. According to Montreal's
Planetair, carbon dioxide emissions from air travel have increased a whopping 83% since 1990. Case in point, Planetair indicates that one Montreal-Paris round trip releases 2.43 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere (that's more than six months worth of pollution from driving a car). To offset pollution, effectively erasing one's carbon footprint, a traveler would then purchase $106 in carbon credits. But
what are carbon credits?
2. Save over $5,000 dollars through car-sharing.
The savings are
that dramatic and a year of car-sharing can represent greenhouse gas savings of about 1200 kg. Owning a car costs about $9,000 annually according to
CAA-Quebec and Défi-Climat points to the
car-sharing service Communauto as a convenient alternative for light car users. Car owners that travel 8000 km or less every year with their cars could save over $5,000 by switching to the Communauto service. But if you've got the guts, how about ditching that car altogether and discover
Montreal's public transit system!
3. Buy a fuel-efficient car.
Défi-Climat cites Environment Canada when they say the average car releases 4 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in a year. So when the time comes to buy a new car, consider one of these
fuel-efficient models recommended by Aaron Gold, About.com's Guide to Cars, and anticipate in the upwards of $500 in annual savings on gas, not to mention 1,008 kg reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
4. Adopt good driving habits.
As per
CAA-Quebec, "good driving habits" refers to driving within the speed limit (driving at 120 km/hour increases gas consumption by 20% than sticking with 100 km/hr) and using the car's air conditioner tacks on another additional 20% in fuel usage. And if there's not enough air in just one tire, you can add another 4% in uselessly consumed gas. So staying within the speed limit, taking it easy on the air conditioner and making sure air pressure is optimal in all four tires can save drivers about $450 a year and 990 kg in green house gas emissions.
5. Walk or bike to work/school five days a week instead of driving.
Walking or bicycling to work or school five days a week instead of driving a car prevents about 950 kg of greenhouse gas emissions. And think of the wonders the exercise will do to your
quads!
