Leaving your car at home for just one day a week can have a huge impact on our environment.
That's the message the city hopes to get across to Edmontonians, as they launched the "1-Day-a-Week Pledge" during Environment Week's kick off event Saturday.
"This is really an invitation to Edmontonians to try something different and move a little bit out of their comfort zone, experimenting with shifting their transportation decisions one day a week," Coun. Don Iveson said at the campaign launch in Dr. Wilbert McIntyre Park in Old Strathcona.
The "1-Day-a-Week" pledge encourages Edmontonians to choose other, more sustainable modes of transportation for at least one day a week.
"Whether it's transit or biking or walking to work or even walking to a recreational pursuit, try it one day a week and pay attention to the health benefits, the financial benefits, [and] the environmental benefits," Iveson said.
A display of balloons was set up in the park Saturday, meant to show the amount of carbon dioxide one person can save by leaving their car at home for one day. The city says nearly 800 balloons could be filled with carbon dioxide through the one day act.
A series of displays showing what kind of impact can add up when one person makes that one day shift will be showcased over the summer.
Various booths were also set up at the Environment Week launch, with information to help Edmontonians reduce their carbon footprint.
Environment Week runs until June 9.
A number of events highlighting the importance of environmental sustainability will run throughout the week.
