RCE Bogota - 2021

Sustainable lifestyles and water footprint
Basic Information
Title of project : 
Sustainable lifestyles and water footprint
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Bogota
Contributing organization(s) : 
El Bosque University
Swiss Embassy in Colombia Humanitarian Aid and Development
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Marcela Rodriguez Beltran
Organizational Affiliation: 
El Bosque University
E-mail: 
estilosdevida@unbosque.edu.co
Format of project: 
Social networks
Language of project: 
Spanish
Date of submission:
Sunday, August 1, 2021
Web link: 
http://enmodoaccion.com/
Additional resources: 
Instagram: @modoaccionsostenible
Facebook: @modoaccionsostenible
Twitter: @modosostenible
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
Yes
Sustainable Consumption and Production Policy
At what level is the policy operating?: 
National
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Americas
Country: 
Colombia
Location(s): 
Bogota
Address of focal point institution for project: 
Av. Cra. 9 No. 131 A - 02
Ecosystem(s):
Urban/Peri-urban
Target Audience:
Community, Youth (Informal)
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
Colombia, located in South America, has a population of approximately 50 million inhabitants. It is formed by 32 departments and has an enormous cultural and natural heritage. It has the influence of different cultures like Andean indigenous communities and African slaves. It is one of the most bio diverse countries in the world, with more than 9,000 endemic species.
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
Colombia has a high vulnerability to climate change, this is why, policies and actions must address the adaptation and mitigation of these negative effects. One of the main objectives of the Colombian government is the implementation of SDGs, especially in engaging youth and general community with these topics, in order to empower them into changing negative consumption patters. This is one of the biggest challenges that the country faces, being able to modify those consumption behaviors that generate negative environmental impacts.
Contents
Status: 
Completed
Period: 
March, 2020
Rationale: 
According to the Cambridge Sustainability Commissions, households are responsible for 72% of global greenhouse gas emissions as a result of their consumption behaviors. This proves that a change in consumption patters is necessary to reduce environmental impacts. Our RCE Project, named “In Action Mode: promoting low-carbon sustainable lifestyles” aims to empower people, especially youth, in changing their behaviors towards more sustainable ones. This was achieved through different strategies such as events, fairs, webinars, and conferences but also through social networks. A big community with more than 27.000 followers on Facebook and Instagram, was the main result of the project. We discovered that an informed consumer is a potential responsible consumer, but motivation must accompany information to achieve long-lasting behavioral changes. We believe in youth as multipliers and as examples of change, by empowering them we can reach a wider audience, from children to adults.
Objectives: 
To inform about the negative environmental impacts associated with current consumption patterns and behaviors, with an emphasis on water footprint, on the "En Modo Acción" platform.
To promote actions that can be carried out to reduce the water footprint and protect the water resource through consumers.
To change long-term negative consumption behaviors into more sustainable ones, through education and actions.
Activities and/or practices employed: 
- Virtual events: such as webinars, conferences and workshops on different topics related to sustainable lifestyles around five domains: food, mobility, consumer goods, housing and leisure.
- Social networks publications: with information, data and actions in the En Modo Acción platform on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
- Contests and interactions with public: through social networks.
Size of academic audience: 
1500
Results: 
- A Workshop for Sustainable Entrepreneurs.
- 32 virtual events with more than 1500 attendees, some of them were turned into podcasts.
- 75 publications on water footprint, biodiversity, sustainable lifestyles.
- 34 young leaders among students and graduates.
- Alliances with more than 50 sustainable enterprises.
- 9 contests with sustainable prizes.
- Cycle of 14 workshops with more than 400 attendees.
- More than 27,000 in social networks.
Lessons learned: 
The pandemic represented an opportunity to develop virtual events, this allowed to increase the scope of the project, engaging people from all regions of Colombia.
The social networks turned into a fundamental tool to communicate with the public.
Challenging people with different types of contests and giving sustainable prices was an excellent strategy to call to action.
Key messages: 
Promoting sustainable lifestyles is fundamental to achieve the SDG number 12. People must be informed about the negative impacts of their consumption patterns, as well as being empowered in changing those behaviors into more sustainable ones. People must be convinced that their actions matter and contribute to a more sustainable country.
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
This project is related to the sustainable lifestyles project developed on 2018 and 2019.
Funding: 
The Swiss Embassy in Colombia, Humanitarian Aid and Development, through its "El agua nos une" Program, funded this project.
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Direct
SDG 6 - Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all 
Direct
SDG 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation 
Indirect
SDG 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 
Direct
SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 
Direct
SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 
Indirect
Theme
Ecotourism 
Indirect
Forests/Trees 
Indirect
Plants & Animals 
Indirect
Waste 
Direct
ESD for 2030-Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 1 - Advancing policy 
state: 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
state: 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 3 - Developing capacities of educators and trainers 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 4 - Mobilizing youth 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
state: 
Direct
Update: 
No