Everyday Climate Solutions: EVs, Composting, and Plant-Based Diets

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Toolkit Overview 

02:40 Dori Larsen: Why Switch to an Electric Vehicle 

14:27 Khari Diop: The Basics of Backyard Composting 

26:32 Common Composting Mistakes to Avoid

28:33 Dr. Keisha Callins: Living a Plant-Powered Life 

39:53 Cost, Variety, and Convincing Your Family 

47:16 Audience Q&A: EV Emissions and Battery Life 

50:28 Audience Q&A: Composting Smells and Pests 

56:49 Are Plant-Based Diets Right for Kids?

What does it actually take to switch to an electric vehicle, start composting at home, or eat a plant-based diet? In this Drawdown Georgia webinar, three climate solutions experts break down the everyday choices Georgians can make to lower their carbon footprint, and answer the practical questions people actually have about getting started.

Host Blair Beasley of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation welcomes Dori Larsen of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Khari Diop of Truly Living Well Center for Natural Urban Agriculture, and Dr. Keisha Callins, a Georgia-trained OB-GYN with Community Healthcare Systems, for a walk through three of Drawdown Georgia’s Climate Solutions Toolkits.

What Does It Cost to Drive Electric?

Dori Larsen covers the basics of EV ownership: how far today’s electric vehicles can go, what it actually costs to charge one compared to filling up with gas, the different levels of EV charging, and the federal tax credits and incentives currently available for both new and used electric vehicles.

How Do You Start Composting at Home?

Khari Diop walks through why composting matters, the difference between “browns” and “greens,” and the ratio that keeps a home compost pile working well. She also shares the most common mistakes people make when they’re just getting started, and a few ways to avoid unwanted smells or pests.

Can a Plant-Based Diet Really Make a Difference?

Dr. Keisha Callins explains the connection between food choices and carbon footprint, why removing beef alone can meaningfully lower emissions, and how small, sustainable shifts, like a couple of plant-based meals a week, can add up. She also covers cost, nutrition, and how to bring family members along for the change.

Your Questions, Answered

The panel closes with an audience Q&A covering how clean an EV really is if your electricity comes from coal, what happens to EV batteries at the end of their life, how to keep a compost pile from smelling or attracting pests, and whether a plant-based diet is a safe choice for kids.

What You’ll Learn

• How much it actually costs to drive and charge an electric vehicle, and which tax credits currently apply.
• Why EVs still cut emissions significantly even on a coal-heavy electric grid.
• The right ratio of browns to greens for a healthy home compost pile, and how long it takes to get usable compost.
• How to avoid the most common composting mistakes, including smell and pest problems.
• How much of an impact small changes, like cutting back on red meat, can have on your carbon footprint.
• Practical tips for eating more plant-based on a budget, without giving up your favorite foods.

Continue reading in our companion blog for more everyday ways to reduce your carbon footprint at home.

Download the Interview Transcript

Prefer to read the conversation instead? Download the complete transcript of this webinar to explore the toolkit authors’ full presentations and audience Q&A.